Appreciation a small album review : Paragon Songs by whenyoung (2 Viewers)

Willow · 8 April 2023

About the group
They were formed in Limerick, Ireland but got their start in London.
They are currently based in England. At the start it was a trio : Aoife Power, Niall Burns and Andrew Flood.
Niall left the group sometime after the release of "Reasons to Dream" (2019).
They got their name from one of their favourite songs, When We Were Young by an Irish band called Whipping Boy.
Then they decided to make it shorter (chose the first and last word) and stuck with that name.

About the album

genre: indie rock, alternative rock
release date: 7th April 2023

It is the second album by the Irish duo whenyoung and was released on Friday, four years after their first album "Reasons to Dream".
They took a break for two years before announcing at the end of last year that they were coming back with their 2nd album.
Prior to the release of the album, they revealed a few singles : A little piece of Heaven, The Laundress, Unchained, Shame Train, and Rubik's Cube.
Both members recorded the album in Ramsgate, England mostly during the year 2020.
It was made as a journey, offering us a wide range of musical genres throughout the album.
It contains 10 songs and the whole album lasts a bit more than 30 minutes (38 minutes).

My review

1. Shame Train
2. Rubik's Cube

The album starts with two electro-pop songs, Shame Train and Rubik's Cube. They were the last singles to be revealed before the album's release.
They are both the most powerful and catchy songs overall in my opinion. They immediately became my favourite songs!!
They grew on me quicker than I have expected - I would recommend trying to listen to those two if you are not familiar with the band.
Ratings: 9/10

3. The Laundress

This was the second single to be revealed, and it reminded me of what a early "CHVRCHES" song could sound like.
However, the comparison is not a complaint, I like both artists equally. It had a bit of electronics elements added into the track mixed with a more mystical atmosphere.
I have particularly enjoyed the chorus and the start of the song, though the whole mix worked pretty well.
Rating: 8.5/10

4. Home Movie
It starts with a strong instrumental and then her voice comes. The spoken words added to the originality of the song.
The indie rock influence here matches well with the light voice of Aoife and the guitar.
Rating: 7.5/10

5. Ghost
A synth-pop song that is terribly efficient and addictive. Whenever whenyoung tries to incorporate a pop sound to their songs, it is smartly done.
The song is overall coherent and consistent. Intense and well structured.
Rating: 8/10

6. A Little Piece of Heaven

This was the first single to be released, followed by the album's announcement. This track is giving calmer vibes overall and shows how delicate Aoife's vocals can be.
I have found that song is really inspiring and it clearly shows the singer's potential to go into a lower voice range.
The track itself shows how versatile the group can be, maybe a sign of the new whenyoung?
Rating: 8/10

7. Even more
Indie rock song with a slightly heavier vibe, with the instruments. Aoife's voice here was sounding dream-like and vulnerable.
The break is enchanting and her voice is fitting quite well.
Rating: 8.5/10

8. Shed my Skin
It is one of the calmest songs of the record along with Even more. Her voice here was almost a cappella-like, and it gave me goosebumps.
The atmosphere here was mystical at first but slowly gets louder towards the end. Pretty sure this song will grow on me!
For anyone who likes slower songs, it's best to listen at night.
Rating: 7.5/10

9. Unchained
10. Gan Ainm
Unchained, the second single to be revealed, had some popish vibes. Gan Aimn took its influence from traditional Irish folk music, which was pleasant to hear. More in the indie side like Unchained, both having this quieter vibe, almost acoustic like. At some moments, it reminded me of some songs we could find on their first album.
Rating: 8/10

Overall ranking: 8+/10
One of the best albums of the year so far in my opinion, anyone should try to get into this album whenever they have time.
I have enjoyed the transition between the first half of the album and the second part.
It is like the group takes us into a labyrinth where you can go anywhere without knowing what you are encountering next.
It was a pleasant surprise!!! However, the album is way too short! They could have added two or three songs ... That would be my only complaint ;(
Also we already knew half of the songs when the album was out, which I found a bit disappointing (only 5 new songs)
Aoife shows us with Paragon Songs that her vocals are as good with synth pop and indie rock songs, which I found refreshing and impressive.
The diversity of sounds that are included in the overall piece is definitely one of the best things about the album.