Late Again - 'If You Have A Bridge (I'm Buying)'
Written as a tribute to New York, and expressing the unique joy of finding oneself as an immigrant in a foreign city, If You Have A Bridge (I’m Buying) cruises at 90% light-speed through dream-pop soundscapes and fervent jazz drumming. Late Again (moniker of Sao Paulo native Rafael Melo) expresses the happiness and community he’s found in the bustling metropolis, even if he and his friends haven’t got much to show for it. His repeated verse “Everyone I know is broke or blue/Why the hell am I in love with you?” is not a lament, more an ironic observation - He’s grateful to live his life in New York, even if it’s tiring and expensive.
The offbeat production choices on If You Have A Bridge… make it stand out. The vocals, listless and whispery, are placed ever-so-slightly back in the mix. It makes them part of the background, allowing the bass to take centre stage, recorded as a clean, direct take which helps to anchor your ears amidst the hubbub. The drums are impossible to ignore, captured with a raw live sound, making the cymbals that much more splashy. It’s an engineering triumph, a texturally dynamic array which takes some simple elements to make for a chaotic sound, bristling with energy.
Lyrically, this song plays out like a minimalist diary entry. Late Again conjures up images rather than telling stories, often dropping single words to illustrate full concepts - “He's been trying to make some changes/A breath of fresh air, warm, metallic.” It captures the frenetic energy of the big city, with busy people who are always going somewhere and never settling. It’s the sound of always being slightly on edge, always having the next thing just a little out of your grasp - But enjoying and appreciating the colourful immediacy of the world around you all the same.
Late Again is a multimedia artist, so for the full effect, you’ll want to watch the accompanying video for this song. It was created through 100 hours of bike rides through all five NYC boroughs. It’s glitched-out and trippy, a kaleidoscopic and dizzying visual that nails the vibe of the song and enhances the experience. That’s what memories are of huge cities - You pass by so much just going to the store or picking up a bite to eat, it all melds into one sense-inflaming moment. If You Have A Bridge… leans into that feeling. Vivid and variegated, it’s a loving ode to a city which can make your dreams reality or smash them into pieces.
Words by Adam Davidson
