THE LILAC TIME
DANCE TILL ALL THE STARS COME DOWN
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The Lilac Time features brothers Stephen and Nick Duffy, and Stephenβs wife, Claire. Dance Till All The Stars Come Down is their 12th album, and first since 2019βs Return To Us. Over the years the band has experimented with folk, country, pop, and even dance. But, here on Dance Till All The Stars Come Down they do what they do best: sparse, folky songs, written by Stephen Duffy. This is a melancholy affair, and yet it is astoundingly beautiful throughout.
Stephen Duffyβs voice has matured, but it is still trademark Duffy. In some songs, such as βOn The Last Days Of Summerβ, his voice is full of emotion and it sounds like he catches himself. His harmonies with Claire are almost otherworldly. Each song has a strong melody and is beautifully arranged and produced. The songs burrow into the listenerβs brain and stay there.
The lyrics are stellar and linger after the song has ended. βYour Vermillion Cliffsβ features the strong lyric βItβs not what happens to you itβs how you react / Itβs not what they say to you tβis what you say back.β Very gentle and yet powerful words. Sometimes funny, sometimes witty, a bit nostalgic and kind of sad. At times, the lyrics are absolutely heartbreaking.
Dance Till All The Stars Come Down is an album that reminds me of Bob Dylanβs Blood On The Tracks, Paul McCartneyβs Flaming Pie, or Nick Loweβs Dig My Mood. It is personal yet inviting. One can easily identify with many of the songs, and Stephen Duffy also opens doors for the listener to see things in a different way.
Dance Till All The Stars Come Down is a very accessible album, full of strong songs that all come together. It demands to be heard from beginning to end. The Lilac Time are promising a great deal of old and new material next year. I hope it is true, because even on year is too long to wait for new songs from this talented band.
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SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: THE LILAC TIME – DANCE TILL ALL THE STARS COME DOWN
Aaron Badgley
