I have to admit that my heart kind of lifted when I read that Future West came from Dundalk in the Irish Republic. There are so many great bands that have and are currently coming out of the capitol city Dublin, that I was delighted to discover a band that came from a town I know pretty well. My mother, who is sadly no longer with us, was born a few miles away in the next County, Armagh in a small district they call Glassdrummond. The indie / alternative quartet comprise of Francis Watters (guitar/vocals), Peter McCoy (guitar) John Mellon (bass) and Pauric McCrum (drums). `Who Will Forgive All My Sins` is Future West`s second album and was recorded by singer/composer and frontman Francis Watters at the band’s home studio in Dundalk. The album is an exploration of loss, regret, self-sabotage, maintaining good mental well-being and missing loved ones with a large chunk of Watters’ lyrics being lifted directly from his personal journals.
The record opens with `Faded` a quite dreamy trippy number that grows in volume as it evolves with a constant drum beat and shimmering guitar chords. The track expands before reaching a peak and fading. There`s a steady drumbeat that leads us into `Late Last Nite` with a leading bass line and vocals that are shared quite rapidly at times with some layered harmonies. The vocals become more belligerent in the latter part and display a sense of annoyance with life. I read that he song was born out of frustration from fear and an internal argument that the singer was having with himself after one too many nights of drinking and staying up too late indoors during quarantine times.
`I Lost What’s Mine` has an almost churning come waltz liker feel initially but becomes more questioning possibly angst ridden as guitars crash around and the vocals are screeched in almost frustration. There`s a ballad like quite anthemic sensibility to `Give You My Time` with lyrics that seem to hint at the inability to spend time with somebody who seems demanding of it.
`The Pilot’s Nightmare` is another track that sways along with some intricate guitar chord riffs and what sounds like a cello shared on route. I think you can read what you want into the lyrical content which for me seemed to touch on the fragility of life. A synth like swathe leads us into `Joggers` which becomes an almost rallying call as the track evolves.
`All My Sins` is a much deeper reflective, introspective composition which was written from a place of dealing with self-inflicted grief. Francis Watters shared that “It’s a piece about breaking things down, re-evaluation and learning to love one’s self despite our flaws and the mistakes we make. The sections of the track represent different stages of the emotions that these actions cause us through anger, sorrow and a glimmer of hope.” Indeed, the number does swing from thoughtful to more insistent sections as we journey through. There are gentle guitar chords guiding us along `Three Years Asleep` where the vocals are almost a stream of consciousness throughout as it builds musically and volubly.
This record closes out with `You Instead` which is a quite uplifting captivating submission to end on. A track that had me drifting off with my own thoughts and reflections.
About `Who Will Forgive All My Sins`, singer/composer Francis Watters has been asked and replied “Is it a concept album? No! But a lot of the songs do revolve around similar themes and the track running order, coincidentally, does tell a somewhat cohesive story depending on what way you interpret the words.
Some of the background suggests that the album was fairly cathartic for the writer and is his way of offering a beacon of hope in difficult times.
`Who Will Forgive All My Sins` is a grower which will I felt required a number of listens before it kind of seeps into your soul. It’s the kind of release that you discover something different each time you return to it, which to me is all you can ask for.
Rating 8.5/10
