B-Side Guys

Four thousand kilometers on foot through the Pacific Crest Trail might seem like an unusual way to produce an album, but for Charles Costa, physical endurance and artistic revelation have become inseparable. “When the War Was Starting,” arriving in the wake of his 90 marathons in 90 days challenge, emerges not just as a song, but as a mile marker in an extraordinary journey of reinvention.

Tucked away in a converted US Air Force base in Suffolk, Costa and his collaborators have crafted something that defies easy categorization. The track opens with an almost liturgical quality before expanding into territory that seamlessly weaves ’80s electronic textures with folk sensibilities. Tom Hobden’s violin work provides ghostly counterpoints to Costa’s intricate guitar patterns, while Jesse Quin’s multi-instrumental contributions create an architectural foundation that somehow manages to feel both solid and permeable.

The production, raw yet refined, captures every nuance of this artistic metamorphosis. Each instrument occupies its own space in the mix while contributing to a collective atmosphere that draws favorable comparisons to RY X’s atmospheric work. Costa’s vocals, recorded with minimal processing, carry the kind of authenticity that can’t be manufactured – they bear witness to both his physical odyssey and the psychological terrain he’s navigated since a life-altering skiing accident twelve years ago.

From the ashes of his King Charles persona, Costa has emerged with a sound that feels both more vulnerable and more assured. Working in a studio housed within an arts center, he’s created a sonic environment where electronic and organic elements achieve a rare equilibrium. The result is a track that feels less like a continuation of his previous work and more like a second debut – fitting for an artist who has quite literally gone the distance to reinvent himself.

In trading royal titles for raw truth, Costa has produced something that transcends typical indie rock boundaries. “When the War Was Starting” stands as proof that sometimes you have to run 4000 kilometers to find yourself exactly where you need to be.