Supported by two excellent B-Side songs, ‘I Was Hoping I’d Run Into You’ is the equally great debut single from London’s Chris Hornsby. Originally from Northumberland, Hornsby is a songwriter with strong influences in country and folk, which really comes through in all three of the songs on this release.
First, the single itself is a speedy, momentum filled acoustic thrum of a tune, opening big and rarely letting up apart from a broken down third verse that adds a dynamic spice to proceedings. Almost rock-based in its structures and chord patterns, it maintains its lighter touch by staying acoustic and adding a few folky touches.
https://soundcloud.com/chrishornsby/i-was-hoping-id-run-into-you-2
The B-Side songs, unusually, are also well worth your time. First, ‘Black Suit’ is far more country based than the single itself, slowing the pace to tell the guitar licked tale of wearing an ‘uncomfortable in a comfortable way’ suit to a funeral. Meanwhile, ‘Star Girl’ is a straight pop-rock tune, set apart from the others by the use of melodic glockenspiel. It sounds twee, it isn’t.
You can hear all three songs on the single here:
https://soundcloud.com/chrishornsby/sets/i-was-hoping-id-run-into-you
