Bryde - Like an Island (Deluxe) (2019)

Bryde' is the project of Sarah Howells, who is also part of the acoustic act 'Paper Aeroplanes'. Since branching out on her own, she has released two EPs and developed a reputation as an excellent performer with a sharp eye for self-observational lyrics. Her debut album 'Like An Island' serves to cement that assessment. Across it's eleven tracks 'Bryde' has crafted a multifaceted record that encompasses delicate introspective songs alongside, real powerhouse numbers. She has managed to transfer the mellifluous elegance of earlier acoustic work into a grittier electric led sound, whilst losing none of the impact of her striking voice. Her shimmering and highly emotive songs for the fans of Daughter & The National. The opening track 'To Be Brave' explores the pressures of attempting to maintain the veneer of stability. "These are the screenshots this is the vision we lived, to keep on smiling, to keep on smiling through it. " There is a clear invocation of the use of social media as a means to reassure ourselves and others of our value. This is a theme that is referenced visually in the accompanying video as captioned moments are shown to be at odds with their surroundings. Musically the song's structure is somewhat irregular, building up from the gentle guitar part and breathy vocals into a much more forceful sounding finish. The accompanying percussion gradually becomes more prominent as the song progresses. The sonic arc, in keeping with the increasingly urgent assertion that all is well, ends with a frantic build-up of guitar.