Vince Leigh’s Single Review: King Canute by Charlie Powling
By Vince Leigh (Ex drummer of Pseudo Echo, Tina Arena and John Farnham) of Australian Radio Promotion for Sheldon Ang Media
In Darwin’s ever-shifting music scene, Charlie Powling stands out as a craftsman who’s found his niche. His latest work, King Canute, is a case in point. The guy’s not reinventing the wheel here, but he’s certainly spinning it with some finesse. This track treads the path blazed by earlier ones like Fifteen Of Fame and When My Ship Comes In, further etching Powling’s name as a bona fide yarn-spinner with a guitar. Now, King Canute—the song takes a hard look at war, its senselessness, and the sheer lunacy that drives it. It’s a narrative that’s been done to death, sure, but Powling’s got his own take. He puts us in the shoes of a regular Joe, holed up in his house, watching the world burn outside.
There’s this weight to the song, a sort of tragic heft, as it paints this picture of a man trying to shield his better half from the inevitable. Reminds you a bit of the old King Canute legend, trying to hold back the sea. That sort of futile bravery, you know? Powling’s song sort of daydreams about a world where folks aren’t duped into marching off to war. It’s a dream passed down from his father, a kind of peace-and-love idealism that’s all too rare these days.
Over the last decade or so, Powling’s sound has morphed, twisted, and turned. His self-titled album in 2018 was a melting pot—a bit of rock, a dash of folk, a sprinkle of country, all stirred up with influences ranging from Mahalia Jackson to The Beatles. The Charlie & The Black Pepper Band, his musical cohorts, have weathered the storms of the industry, as evident in their Drive the Highway album. They’ve soaked up inspiration from heavy hitters like John Schumann and Bruce Springsteen, working with producers like Lindsay Masters and Garry (Jacko) Jackson to churn out tunes that have a story to tell, not just a beat to dance to.
This latest track from Powling is proof that music can be more than just background noise—it can stir the soul, rattle the brain, and maybe, just maybe, make you think a little. King Canute is a testament to Powling’s craft: he’s not just strumming strings, he’s weaving tales, and he’s pretty darn good at it.
