‘Get Miles’ – Gomez, 1998
Before I start writing about this song I have to make a submission – I LOVE GOMEZ! There, I’ve said it. Without question they are my favourite English band from the last decade – and I’m looking at you Radiohead, not that there is anything wrong with Radiohead of course. ‘Get Miles’ is the first song from the excellent debut album, which won the Mercury Music Prize for best newcomer in 1998.
Vocal duties in Gomez are generally shared by Ian Ball and Ben Ottewell, with Mr. Ottewell having the lion’s share of duties on this one, which was a good choice as his voice is what carries this song for me. I remember seeing Gomez a few years ago at the Ambassador and they opened the set with this song and it blew me away as he belted out this song and definitely set the tone for what is one of my favourite live shows in recent years (I am biased of course! ).
The song itself is one of desperation in life and wanting to get away from it all, hence the title of the track and also evident in the chorus itself “Get Miles Away” x3. Literally I think he’s just sick of the whole world he’s living in, from his home country “I love this island man but this island is killing me” to the city he lives in “I Love this city man but this city’s killing me” to the world itself – “I love this planet man but this planet’s killing me”. and wants to get the hell out of there “Gonna leave everything I know gonna head out towards the sea” / “Gonna leave everything I know gonna head to the Galaxy”. All in all the song itself is pretty gloomy, powerfully sung by Ben Ottewell. Didn’t his Mamma ever tell him there would be days like these? Check out this great live version here.
