Hailing from Newbury in Berkshire, Joe Hicks released his debut album `The Best I Could Do at the Time` in 2022.
He releases he latest album `Before It Gets Dark` this month, a cathartic set of songs written as Joe came to terms with an immense amount of grief. The artist was going through a lengthy breakup and suddenly found himself also dealing with the loss of his father. He pondered abandoning music but with the encouragement of his long-time collaborator Tom Millar and producer Sam Winfield, he channelled his emotions into this release.
Opening track `Time is A Thief` begins quietly and is a reflective offering that sways from high to low and back again but allows this singer-songwriter to express his mindset of the time and showcase his varied vocal range. We have more of the same with ‘The Architect’ but it touches more in the context of his failed relationship. There`s some delightful percussion, synth hues, and meandering guitar.
`Heart in Two` has the early shoots of hope amongst the debris of distress where some self-analysis allows a way forward while the shuffling slower burn of `If Only` ponders on what ifs and an aching feeling of emptiness.
‘Five Into One` has a shimmer about it but is still wrapped up in pain and heartache. There`s post-breakup confusion aplenty on the much rockier ‘More to Me’ but with an almost acceptance of the situation.
‘Rollercoaster’ has a slight reggae vibe and equates the situation to riding the big dipper. We have a synth laden poetic rhythm to ‘Maybe’ where the singer considers if he`d missed something and it was all a dream.
‘In the Silence’ is stripped-back with just strummed guitar and vocals and seems to be an olive branch of support. I read that Plato’s allegory of the cave is ensconced in the stop start rock outing of ‘Face the Stone’ which illustrates the journey from ignorance to enlightenment with this philosophical metaphor.
‘Over and Out’ is an apt title for the final song, a dreamy meditative listen to close out on. “Lyrically it’s about loss and worrying about the further passage of time with further losses,” explains Joe. ‘It’s wondering how you will cope when more people close to you leave your life. It’s a call out to my Dad in the most despairing part of grief.’
`Before It Gets Dark` is an absorbing and engaging listen where the idiomatic expression of Life`s Rich Pageant comes to mind. A phrase used to describe the diverse, often chaotic mix of experiences, both good and bad that make up a full life. I`m sure this album was fairly cathartic for the artist and it`ll be interesting to see how he develops and grows.
Joe has undertaken slots supporting Sam Fender, Seafret, James Walsh and Starsailor, so the future does appear quite bright.
Rating 8/10
