⊕⇑⊗ „Bruise“ je srdcervoucí nahrávka s vražednými háky a nakažlivými melodiemi. Nato, že je to debutové album, pokrývá velký grunt, hodně úrodné půdy a předvádí neomezený potenciál Lizzy Farrall, aby vytvořil cokoli, co tě podrží, na co se neumírá, nastaví její mysl a umístí ji na mapu jako sílu, se kterou je třeba počítat.
Location: Chester, UK
Album release: March 27, 2020
Record Label: Pure Noise Records
Duration: 32:20
Tracks:
01. Addict 3:12
02. Gas Lighting 3:04
03. Yellow Paint 3:07
04. Love No More 3:29
05. Games 3:28
06. Knocked for Six 3:28
07. Knight Rider (feat. Bradley Walden) 3:06
08. Balloon 3:16
09. Okay 2:37
10. Barbados 3:33
Review
By Jo Cosgrove | 27/03/2020 | Score: 8
⊕⇑⊗ Chester artist Lizzy Farrall has been amazing everyone within the alternative scene with her calm, heartfelt hits over the last few years. However, she decided to shake things up a little bit with the creation of her latest release. Following on her previous EPs, she knows where she wants to go and how she can ascend within the industry. Change it up, be louder, be alive — and it works! Enter ‘Bruise.’
⊕⇑⊗ Priding herself on writing “quirky, honest songs that have resonated with fans across the world“, Farrall has found the best way to express her feelings and interpret it all through her favourite art form. The record opens with one of her most recent singles, ‘Addict’ and it introduces exactly what she aims for. It’s modern mainstream pop with a twist. There are no moments too soft that need turning up, or too fast~paced and loud to lose track of what’s happening within the track. ‘Addict’ uses bouncy electronic beats with the right level of energy, and Farrall’s own vocals are a standout throughout. Detailing ups and downs with soft and loud, she brings her inner~workings of life experience into a melody that will get caught in the head for a good few moments.
⊕⇑⊗ “IT’S MODERN MAINSTREAM POP WITH A TWIST.”
⊕⇑⊗ Farrall is someone who can tell a story through her strongest weapon and her best trained instrument: her voice. She’s showing the world that her experience, combined with the renewal of her personal style, has granted her a set of skills. She can take from what learnt with this record and use it in the future. She could continue with what’s she’s establishing with ‘Bruise‘; or she could advance past this cycle and surprise the world again with an unpredictable new era.
⊕⇑⊗ The catchiest song from the record is ‘Games’, a song all about the need for certainty, commitment and truth in a relationship. It’s a tale of modern~day romance. The classic kind of love seems to be stuck in the golden days; 2010s dating culture seems full of misunderstanding and unfaithfulness. Farrall’s use of the lyric, “I wanna be killed by you” is a demonstration of how any attention is good attention when it’s coming from a loved one.
⊕⇑⊗ ‘Barbados’ closes off the record. It brings together the contemporary sounds of the 2020s with nostalgic notes of the 1980s. This creates an upbeat tune, using it while tackling the topic of heartbreak. A common practice of masking unhappy lyrics with an overly happy beat, Farrall uses it in a way that makes listeners feel hopeful. There is always a happy ending; nothing stays bad forever.
⊕⇑⊗ “FARRALL USES IT IN A WAY THAT MAKES LISTENERS FEEL HOPEFUL.”
⊕⇑⊗ With changing up what she was giving to the world and breathing new life into her music, Lizzy Farrall has begun her climb to the very top of the alternative scene. As she’s mastering her signature sound and the route she wishes to take throughout her music career, she’s still in her early days. If this is the beginning, then the middle will be ever so thrilling, and the end will be too far away to even think about it.
⊕⇑⊗ 2020 has been one of ups and downs; allow Lizzy Farrall to be a voice of positiity, and welcome ‘Bruise‘ as a soundtrack of hope and fun times. Bring on the 2020s!
⊕⇑⊗ http://discoveredmagazine.com/
Also:
Words by Laura Freyaldenhoven |
⊕⇑⊗ As humans, we love a good box. Something to catalogue and define the world around us. Sexuality, gender, genres — anything to help make sense of very confusing realities. But do we really need them? Isn’t it more fun to just be, exist without limitations?
⊕⇑⊗ Lizzy Farrall does just that on genre~fluid debut album ‘Bruise’ — exist. Each song in a different soundsphere; some taking on more poppy colours, à la Kim Petras (‘Yellow Paint’), others waving the alternative flag of guitar heavy rhythms (‘Games’) or wearing a technicolour dream coat of warped synths creating an irresistibly haunting atmosphere (‘Knocked For a Six’). What ties the album together are Lizzy’s distinctively enchanting vocals that guide the way through its musical waters, effortlessly switching between emotions and capturing attention from the very first second.
⊕⇑⊗ The themes are painfully relatable. In poetic lyrics ‘Bruise’ speaks to lost souls and broken hearts telling stories of falling in and out of love, being left behind and replaced, of unhealthy obsession and unbearable loneliness. In short, it covers the ups and downs of human relationships and leaves nothing unsaid.
⊕⇑⊗ ‘Bruise’ is a heartbreak record with killer hooks and infectious melodies. As a debut album, it covers a lot of ground, showcasing Lizzy Farrall’s unbound potential to create anything she sets her mind to and puts her on the map as a force to be reckoned with.
⊕⇑⊗ https://whenthehornblows.com/
Review by Naomi Sanders | March 28, 2020 | Score: 9
⊕⇑⊗ The fight against Coronavirus means that the struggle for musicians is becoming more difficult with each passing day. Since being on the road is not a possibility at the moment, they have to do all they can when it comes to their albums and singles. Despite this, indie rocker Lizzy Farrall isn’t letting that stop her from releasing her debut album, Bruise. Featuring a few songs from her EP, Barbados, as well as many other original additions, how does this debut fair for this young artist?
⊕⇑⊗ Very well, in fact. Building on the momentum from her EP and the sound from there, taking this 80s new wave style whilst keeping the production simple for anyone to listen to. The songs that were on the EP, Games, Balloon, and Barbados, sound just as great on this album as they did on the EP, with fantastic lyricism and strong accompanying music to back up the words. This is something that continues through within the other songs. There are elements that would remind the listener of FLEETWOOD MAC’s style of writing, where the music feels beautiful in its ambience, but the lyrics cut deeper into issues that Lizzy Farrall wants to discuss. Even with the music masking the song’s theme initially, it does a great job elevating the brilliant lyrics and effectively accompanying them.
⊕⇑⊗ The electric sounds added to the instrumentation also help elevate the music instead of hindering it — it’s all balanced very well, especially with Lizzy Farrall’s amazing voice. All this mixed together in songs like Addict, Gas Lighting, Love No More, and Okay really make this one of the best albums to listen to this year, no matter what side of the globe this person is on. Knight Rider is a beautiful duet with her and Bradley Walden, and their voices melt together so well whilst singing lyrics that are very honest and realistic when it comes to the topic of love. Okay also has to be given a special mention because, whilst it is short, it is so emotional to listen to, especially with the refrain “I don’t need nobody, I don’t need no one”. This same lyrical depth is exhibited here as well as at the beginning of the album, showing the intelligence of Lizzy Farrall, and why she is a true artist in both poetry and music.
⊕⇑⊗ Overall, Bruise is a stunning debut and something everyone should listen to. Each word sung is exquisite with so much meaning behind it, and the music is beautiful whilst not distracting from the song’s message. The music helps draw the listener in due to its catchiness, but the lyrics are why they stay. On this record, it’s done very well. This is a record to help through this weird and surreal time and one that will not be forgotten by the end of the year.
⊕⇑⊗ https://distortedsoundmag.com/
Website: http://lizzyfarrall.com/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/LizzyFarrallmusic/