Saint Raymond - We Forgot We Were Dreaming
Five years after his uplifting debut album, ‘Young Blood’, which formed the soundtrack to our 2015 summer, Nottingham-based indie-pop singer Saint Raymond has returned with his long-awaited second album: ‘We Forgot We Were Dreaming’. With the indie-fuelled sounds of ‘Fall At Your Feet’ and ‘Wild Heart’ ringing in our collective memories, will the high-energy of these early releases be matched?
Tracks like ‘Love this Way’ and ‘Right Way Round’ are undoubtably reminiscent of his summer-infused debut, featuring feel-good festival sounds. The catchy refrain and hopeful chorus of ‘Right Way Round’ speaks of youth’s optimism in the face of uncertainty.
The conversational undertones throughout make the album relatable and down-to-earth. Saint Raymond doesn’t care for complexities – the album features straight-forward lyrics, repeating block chords and catchy refrains, characteristics that I’m sure his fans have come to love.
As the album progresses, more mature themes begin to unfold. ‘Talk’ exposes Saint Raymond’s own mental health struggles, regrets and broken relationships. He reveals: ‘I’ve got voices in my mind telling me that I’m not right’. This self-critical voice is something that I’m sure feels all too familiar to many of us. Despite the heavier themes, though, he still manages to maintain his upbeat energy.
In the last few tracks, Saint Raymond seems to stray from his indie-roots to more Sam Smith inspired melodies; the melancholy lyrics feel unimaginative and samey. The lengthy12-track album allows for more expansion than is conveyed; looking ahead to future releases, I would like to see Saint Raymond push the boundaries of the indie-pop formula he has come to master.
6/10
