You can't buy back your life...or photos

What do you do when the weight of the recession bears down on you like the boulder of Sisyphus? If you’re Bill Coleman, you use the experience to write one of the best albums of the year.

Hailing from the coastal town of Cobh County Cork, Bill’s distinctive style of electro folk redefines the term “crossover” finding an uncannily melodic middle ground between Paul Simon and Crystal Castles. His second studio album You Can’t Buy Back Your Life is an affirmation of optimism, an irresistibly catchy collection of songs sure to be the perfect remedy for the winter of discontent in which we find ourselves.

From the outset, the infectious call and response of first single “I Want You to Know” lures the listener into a landscape of electro loops and sinuous synth swirls. Bill’s subtle witticisms convert consciousness into a canvas, as scenes and sentiments materialise through the perforated notes of the keyboard. 

“Welcome to the Breakdown” is a declaration of the redemptive qualities of music; an alternative assessment of the dark days descending upon us. The droning sub-frequencies of the bass provide the backdrop for a pop and slap guitar riff, adding a touch of the bayou to this journey into the concrete jungle.

The cadence of a solitary guitar introduces "False North", a sweet and sonorous serenade savouring the sounds of Dublin city life. His adoption of a more traditional sound here draws comparison to the output of fellow songwriters Paddy Casey and Damien Rice. The simple chord progression acts as the impetus of a stream of consciousness, with the rhythm section and strings slowly evolving into a cascade in the chorus.

In standout track "Crossfire", a sliding bass line provides a plateau for Bill’s poetic impressions, as the keys chime like cherub harps in the far corners of the sound spectrum. The piano melody enhances the sense of longing in the lyrics by circling the home chord, without ever fully resolving the tension. 

The defining characteristic of this album is its capacity to transport the listener back into the songs’ original scenes. In “Somewhere”, we descend into the depths of a purgatorial relationship and experience the ambivalence that accompanies it.

“The Church of Second Chances” emerges as the album’s most distinctive track, with its down tempo beat recalling the iconic rhythms of Underworld in their heyday. The angular pulse breaks the natural flow of the song, drawing our attention to the series of images unfolding within the lyrics like a living poetry. The counterpointing melodies build to the all encompassing hook, leaving a lasting impression in the listener long after the track has elapsed.

There is even a novelty to the cd’s packaging. The liner notes consist of 12 multi-coloured squares cut from A4 sheets, which can be reassembled into four separate panels of lyric. The resultant metaphor is fitting for an album that is a jigsaw of colourful insights, sown seamlessly together to create a panoramic picture of modern day Ireland.
 

You Can’t Buy Back Your Life is a genuine communication of experience, delivered with a sincerity that won’t unravel upon closer inspection. In a cultural climate consumed by financial troubles, it’s comforting to think that happiness can be found outside monetary issues in the incidental details of everyday life.

Recommended.

John Ryan