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Picture of Our Youth - David's Lyre Album Review

Posted: 22nd February 2012
Review Info
Rating:
4 out of 5
Artist:
Release Date:
20th Feb 2012
Label:
Self-released
Reviewer:
Alex Litton

Album Review

Articulate, entrancing, beautiful - and nearly didn't get made. After a parting of the ways with his record label, Paul Dixon, aka David's Lyre, has self-released (on a pay-what-you-want basis) this first full-length work via Bandcamp, and one can only imagine label heads must now be banging their heads in frustration at what they've let slip through their fingers.

Working once again with Luke Smith (Foals, Slow Club), who took the production helm on Lyre's 'In Arms' EP release of last year, whether or not 'Picture of Our Youth is in any way a personal reflection of 22 year old Dixon's life, it's certainly one of a writer advanced beyond his chronological years.

Emotional directness and honesty of vocals entwine around intricate use of orchestration, as on 'The Fall', with its resigned lyric of this is the life we've chosen; whilst 'Hidden Ground' rides on a percussion wind, and 'This I Know' employs plaintive violin notes to enhance its electro-pastoralia. Given snapshots of times lyrically, from the romance of 'English Roses' ('this time I'll say I love you') to the wishing to 'overthrow my fears' on 'These Trees' (as horns blast over piano and skittering drums), this is a must-add 'picture' for any collection.

Alex Litton