If a songwriter is to draw you in, they need the ability to tell a story with not only their chosen instrument but their presence too. Lucy Rose has spent the time between her previous album Something’s Changing and No Words Left to condole emotions that were thought to not even be there. To see an artist blossom into this beautiful rose (pardon the pun), Lucy has literally grown up with the public in close sight. Written during one of the hardest times of her life, we’re in arms length of something so personal.
The record starts with the fragile ‘Conversation’, which reflects on a relationship that seems to have gone stale. The string arrangement adds a layer of fear for the romance, before ascending into a Pink Floyd ‘Echoes’-like finale, this is a fascinating track and engaging opener. Continuing a spacious effect, ‘No Words Left Part 1’ unveils a subtle angelic vocal line. Minimalistic and keeping the arrangement as light as a feather, ‘Solo(w)’ is elegant and shines under its own spotlight. It’s something you’d hear in a small quiet jazz café, with no mobile phones, just people listening in complete awe. Sounds wonderful, doesn’t it?
With a strong message that captures your thoughts straight away, ‘Treat Me Like A Woman’ is simply about equality. Women aren’t taken seriously because they’re simply women, and it’s completely heartbreaking to still live in a world like that. This is the first track where we’ve heard Lucy’s views on this brutally honest subject. It is a cry for help and hopefully people will wake up and release the truth that we’re all equal. Lyrically, ‘The Confines Of This World’ is a strong contender, but musically it feels slightly disorientated and overly complex. We hear a gradual band element in ‘Nobody Comes Round Here’ which takes the album in a slightly different approach. We would definitely like to hear more this side of Lucy.
With its head in the sky and eyes filled with love ‘What Does It Take’ transforms hope into certainty. With segments of wonde, there’s confidence for a successful love and of course, Lucy found love with Rae Morris’ brother William. Lucy has a natural breath-like vocal that shares similarities with Karen Carpenter. ‘Save Me From Your Kindness’ takes us into a rollercoaster ride of vocal hooks. It really is a climatic build for the album and sits comfortably near the finishing line. ‘Pt.2’ really ignites the flame back in Lucy’s heart, an awakening as she starts to come out of the ‘darkness.’
‘Song After Song’ is a beautiful send off to an even extraordinary album from this songwriter. Modulating chorus effects circulate our speakers with pure nostalgic vibes and a retro atmosphere. Sometimes, the darkness of our past leads to the most beautiful future light and this record completely confirms that.