Lydia - Illuminate
Rating
RIYL
CopelandStars
Death Cab For Cutie
The Spill Canvas
Tracklist
1. This Is Twice Now2. A Fine Evening For A Rogue
3. I Woke Up Near The Sea
4. Hospital
5. Fate
6. Sleep Well
7. Stay Awake
8. All I See
9. One More Day
10. Ha Yeah It Got Pretty Bad
11. Now The One You Once Loved Is Leaving
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Whilst many albums contain one or two tracks that encourage the occasional shiver down the spine, a handful of melodies that seem to perfectly mirror your mood, it is a very rare feat for a band to deliver an album that, from start to finish, is as evocative as the smell of your first love's hair, as electrifying as your first kiss, as painful as your worst heartbreak, and commits all of this to music that conjures nostalgia for all of these feelings and begs for more experiences to be the perfect soundtrack to.
All this may seem frighteningly hyperbolic, but Lydia’s sophomore release, Illuminate, is just that magnificent. From the solemn opening keys of “This Is Twice Now”, to the final far off echoes of “The One You Once Loved Is Leaving”, there are plentiful moments where it isn’t an exaggeration to note that my heartbeat was raised, my eyes dampened, and my chest tightened.
Their debut album This December; It’s One More and I’m Free was certainly a brilliant record, and introduced their rather unique blend of baroque, poetic lyrics delivered with vocalist Leighton Antelman’s breathy, exasperated tones atop swirling, epic melodies. The way in which it interlinked songs with crackling snippets of dialogue, distant footsteps, flowing refrains; it made it seem a hugely unattainable task to produce anything quite as refreshing and bold as their debut, which makes Illuminate all the better.
While it continues with This December’s style of weaving songs together in a manner that holds them together, like a tapestry you must experience in full to really appreciate it; on a song-to-song basis, Lydia have simply reached a whole new level. The vocals delivered by Antelman and singer/keyboardist Mindy White are nothing short of breath-taking. The chorus of “Sleep Well”, where the two sing “it was just, just a god damn mistake” in a harmony so painfully gorgeous it may just shatter your bruised and battered heart, is as fine an example as any of how Lydia can, in the same glorious instance, awaken deep-seated melancholy, and instill sparkling hope.
There is such a wealth of wonderful moments on Illuminate, it is impossible to give a true feel of the record by merely recounting them all, yet all deserve accolade. The crescendous final moments of “A Fine Evening For A Rogue”, the shimmering guitar intro to “Stay Awake”, White’s vocals on “Fate”; there is just so much going on, it is hard to absorb in one sitting.
This probably lends to Illuminate’s staying power. From the second it was received, right up until writing this review, it has been played at least three to four times in entirety every day, and its melodies still hit with the same force, its harmonies still cause goosebumps. One thing that hampered This December, retrospectively, was its at times overwhelmingly morose atmosphere. Here, whilst lost love and insomnia are the major lyrical jumping points, the songs on Illuminate almost always manage to sound positive and hopeful. “Sleep Well”’s relatively upbeat tempo at first seems out of place, but in fact creates the set up for one of the album's biggest triumphs. It really is hard to pick fault with this release. The only thing it seems possible to change would be to extend the dark, sombre tones of “...Ha Yeah It Got Pretty Bad” into a full song, but this is just pure greed.
Illuminate resonates with the weight of a group of people putting every ounce of their combined hopes and fears, their loves and losses into their music and producing one of the most genuinely moving, heart-wrenching records I have had the pleasure of experiencing. Regardless of what genre usually takes your fancy, pick up a copy and let Lydia into your life and into your heart.
--Alex Davies
Comments
Waterloo, Ontario
I'll definitely be checking this one out though, from what I've heard on their myspace it'll be a good one.
Top Ten of 2009 http://www.decoymusic.com/users/3747/top_tens/2009
Colorado Springs, CO
I've yet to listen but I'm expecting some good things.
I love the artwork by the way.
Dubuque
Mark Twain always said, "When in doubt leave it out."
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Minnesota
Find me EVERYWHERE:
Manchester, England
Manchester, England
Get outta here William Shatner.
Toronto
Hahaha I actually lol'd
I also love the artwork, and I like the album, thought I probably haven't given it enough time. Your review makes me want to give it more.
Beer Blog
Berlin, Germany
Again: 3 out of 5, fanboys !!!
Manchester, England
Dubuque
Basically what your saying is any reviewer who REALLY likes an album can't review it because it's biased.
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Though I imagine he'd make an exception if the human agreed with him about the music.
Beer Blog
it is a really good album
Manchester, England
Manchester, England
Spokane, Washington
Current Listenings:
7 Horns 7 Eyes - "Throes of Absolution"
Horse Feathers - "Cynic's New Year"
Andrew Bird - "Break It Yourself"
Sigur Ros - "Valtari"
Rocky Votolato - "Television of Saints"
Janus - "Nox Aeris"
Blues Traveler - "25"
Berlin, Germany
Let's not get into an argument about that ..
Basically what I wanted to say is that this cd is an ok, average cd. The guy's singing is terrible ! The songs sound all the same, it is overhyped.
Manchester, England
what? leighton's vocals are incredible. he has an amazing voice.
All I was trying to say is that it's human nature to have prejudices. You're evincing one now by not liking his vocals when they obviously appeal to some of the other folks 'round here.
Beer Blog
but basically I'm just trying to reinforce scott's point about how everyone's opinions about how reviewing and rating should be done are completely different. I don't want to start no beef, especially not with a sharply dressed and perfectly hair styled british guy who gets more poon than I ever will.
Manchester, England
its all contrasting opinions. for me, i couldnt handle 'five star' albums being delivered once a decade. i view music like girls. find something you like, fall head over heels straight away, deal with consequences later.
Dubuque
In total agreement there. I can't count the times where I was in love with an album and like a month or so down the road couldn't stand it.
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