I’ve been living with this album on almost constant replay for a week now. It’s such a privilege to hear it before any official release and to be asked by Ant Clifford to review it!
Ant will have to correct me but looking at my music collection, it seems I’ve been listening to Lofter since 2016 when Proost made the Lofter back catalogue available. Since then every new release has been eagerly anticipated.
But enough of my reminiscing. Let’s get to the music.
There are some typical Lofter recurring themes in the lyrics – loss, unfulfilled love, struggling with the past, feeling trapped and unable to move forward – but as ever it’s never maudlin or without hope. Certainly not. More than that though, Ant has probably never been more open with his emotions and feelings or his ADHD condition (the piano driven ‘4AM’ which was co-written with Mike Rutter or the more poppy ‘Crash bang’) and this has given room to some of the finest, most beautiful, most emotionally moving songs Lofter has ever produced.
At every level the musicianship is fabulous – that’s not surprise of course; Ant is a truly gifted musician and he’s surrounded himself with a group of co-writers and collaborators who make the sum beautiful to listen to. You’d expect the guitar-work to be top draw (which it is) but there’s use of some really interesting synths to add layers. When Lofter introduce xylophone-sounding synths and horns (a nod to Lofter’s Yorkshire home perhaps) the production reaches an astonishing peak which, for me, really moves my heart. There’s plenty of pop-sensibility on show too – not least ‘Tidal Wave’ which could easily be found on a Sophie Ellis-Bextor album!
I’ll pick out a few highlights in an album genuinely full of them.
Co-written with Adam Hayes, ‘Lasting Light’ is a song about a friend who knew they were going to die and the singer finding out too late. The acoustic, undistorted finger picked guitars are the foundation of this delicate song but the percussion and synths create a gentleness that you find yourself drifting along with as you listen to the depth of the words:
“Didn’t hear your pain
‘Coz your smile drowned it out
And I want you to know
You to know
With the time that’s left
As long as I draw breath
Your light is here to glow
Here to glow”
I mentioned ‘Crash Bang’ earlier and it’s a stand out track if only because it’s the first time I’ve heard ‘neurodiversity’ in a song lyric! But it’s a wonderful, inspiring danceable tune celebrating the challenges and joys of ‘difference’. It’s got a such a catchy rhythm and builds to quite the most uplifting crescendo.
“Crash bang emotionally
So many things to feel
So many things to be
Our neurodiversity
Autism for you
ADHD for me”
Which leads me to ‘After you left’. Some of you may have heard this already as Proost got an early preview a month or so ago. It may also be the finest song Ant has written. A song about being left behind and then eventually joining your loved one after death, Ant’s vocal range is used to full effect to evoke the depth and power of the track.
“Before our life together was full
But it’s empty now you’re gone”
An extended bridge after verse one introduces piano, subtle strings and percussion creating a delicacy – a ‘touch’ that invites you deep into the soul of the song.
Ant cuts back again for the second verse. There’s very little musical accompaniment to the vocals which are used brilliantly to express such emotion, before the horns, an instrument used to such emotive effect throughout this album, re-emerge to elevate the song to another level altogether.
It’s an incredible song of such depth and power.
“I can feel the end slowly
Peaceful thoughts take my mind
Like I can smell new air fresh and free
Makes me happy to leave this part behind”
Following this track with the upbeat ‘Tidal wave’ is a master stroke. Ending with the lullabye-esqe ‘Little Life’ is perfect.
The whole album is a great success and comes highly recommended from me.
You can listen and download the album here
Rob Hewlett
