It is ... sufficient to put to bed any doubts that they might have called it a day because there was no juice left in the tank. Thorpe’s supply, at least, is clearly bountiful.
He has spoken of Diviner as “a self-help album,” and to that end, some of its songs are so intimate that their meanings seem all but impossible for an outsider to parse. But in the moments when he decides to push his music out into the light, Thorpe's self-searching takes on a shape we can all recognize.
Sometimes Thorpe’s approach goes close to the blue eyed mellow r n’ b of Rhye, others it ends up delicately piano driven with a Nils Frahm ambience.
Both approaches suit the man’s vocals which are firmly locked in ‘tender’ mode - you’ll find no hooting nor howling here.
The only real weakness is the best tracks are so sublime you may find yourself pining for them during a couple of relative lulls.
Since the death of the "Wild Beasts" the idea of their two lead singers releasing solo material, lingered in mind, and here we have the first of that divine thought.
And of course its, Hayden to release first, his voice so ethereal and covered in emotion but broken away from Fleming's baritone can it ever reach the same level without juxtaposition? The instrumentation birthed among the waters of sleepy piano. Its the kind of backdrop, anyone could have guessed.
But where this ... read more
Wild Beast's former frontman unleashes his debut in the open with its unobtrusive vulnerability, breathtaking piano flourishes and aching lyricism taking him fully into the spotlight. The familiar signature sound of his band's work echoes throughout the track-list but giving his own refreshing spin that never overstays its welcome. Something bold and beautiful lies within the music here and it's undeniable.
right before writing this i was like "this guy has such a familiar voice, reminds me of the wild beasts" then i saw his artist bio haha. hayden thorpe's whispy vibrato is maybe polarizing but i adore it and so cool to find his solo work. it's actually a bit more creatively flowing than any of his group work and at times reminds me of a few tracks from 'a moon shaped pool' with the heart wrenching piano movements. "human knot" and "spherical time" in the album ... read more
This is a detailed and relevant album that delves into themes about vulnerability and intimacy. It’s quite a lovely listen
1 | Diviner 3:23 | |
2 | Straight Lines 3:43 | |
3 | Earthly Needs 4:13 | |
4 | Love Crimes 3:55 | 66 |
5 | Stop Motion 4:15 | |
6 | In My Name 3:38 | |
7 | Anywhen 4:14 | |
8 | Human Knot 3:20 | |
9 | Spherical Time 2:52 | |
10 | Impossible Object 3:37 |
#28 | / | The Line of Best Fit |
#39 | / | musicOMH |
#42 | / | God Is In The TV |
#49 | / | Under the Radar |