Louder Than The Music

FoldingLights - Subterranean Hum

Artist:

FoldingLights

Title:

Subterranean Hum

Type:

Album

Released:

19 Jul 2019

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Review

Following a string of single releases this year, Belfast singer/songwriter Foldinglights has released his debut album 'Subterranean Hum'. Michael Peter Ball is the artist behind Foldinglights, he writes with vulnerability, and straight from the heart honesty, about faith, love, death and everything in between. He has dedicated himself to crafting music that cuts straight to the centre of the soul and that really does come over on this album.

You can tell this is a proper songwriter's album. These are stories told to creative music. These songs are about life, in a very honest way. You can see the influences...
Read More Following a string of single releases this year, Belfast singer/songwriter Foldinglights has released his debut album 'Subterranean Hum'. Michael Peter Ball is the artist behind Foldinglights, he writes with vulnerability, and straight from the heart honesty, about faith, love, death and everything in between. He has dedicated himself to crafting music that cuts straight to the centre of the soul and that really does come over on this album.

You can tell this is a proper songwriter's album. These are stories told to creative music. These songs are about life, in a very honest way. You can see the influences from artists like Jon Foreman, Foy Vance and Glen Hansard, coming out of the album from the moment you press play.

Opening track 'Whispers' is truly epic. It's a beautiful ballad that is heart wrenching and powerful. What a away to start the album. Yet the quality songs keep coming. I love the acoustic and warm 'Roses'. Mr Foldinglights you really know how to pull on the heart strings of the listener.

From the opening two tracks you might think, "another acoustic, creative album". Well... listen to the stunning 'American Jesus' which gives the room a big musical shake and gives the album a rock boost. Foldinglights uses electronic and acoustic instruments to create a diverse and unique sound added to the beautiful and vulnerable vocals of Michael.

When I reviews album it's usually one thing or another that stands out more than anything, be it vocals, overall sound, overall quality, the songs themselves, lyrics, harmonies, creativity. Yet this album pulls all of that together to make an overall sweet sounding album. I really can hear the Jon Foreman influence so much, especially from his 4 solo EP's from a good few years ago now. I can imagine being sat around a campfire and having the acoustic sounds of the song 'Sustained' would be something really magical.

The track 'Perfect' starts off with a very rich piano sound, it soon kicks in with these lovely vocals that capture the essence of the track from the start. With it's haunting yet powerful lyrics this song is up there with Foldinglights' best work. The song itself deals with so much, from growing up with insecurity, lack of self confidence, self doubt - to even dealing with the side of accepting grace. The chorus for me is something else, the beautiful soft harmonies are again breathtaking.

I know this isn't about me, but I am so impressed with this record. It tell the listener raw and honest stories. Messages fly out of these songs showing that you can tell stories in songs by being creative lyrically, and FoldingLights does this perfectly. I can't recommend this album enough. This really is the perfect next step from FoldingLights after Exiles.

Review by Jono Davies

LTTM Rating 5 Out of 5 Stars
Standout Tracks
Roses
American Jesus
Sustained
Perfect

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FoldingLights Set To Release 'Subterranean Hum' Album

Following a string of single releases this year, Belfast singer/songwriter Foldinglights is set to release his debut album on July 19th. Drawing influences from artists like Jon Foreman, Foy Vance and Glen Hansard, 'Subterranean…