Siobhan Wilson – The Departure
With The Departure, Siobhan Wilson has crafted a constantly captivating experience that's rich in both sound and spirit
'Reinvent whatever you want / Or be as simple as you want'
As Siobhan Wilson declares this on the delicate, string-swept April, she airs a liberating narrative, one where she encourages taking control of your own destiny. Following the acclaim of 2017’s There Are No Saints, Wilson herself continues to forge a path all her own. Raising funds through Kickstarter and releasing on her own Suffering Fools Records, The Departure encourages the listener to throw off the weight of expectation.
The freedom Wilson expresses is laced across the sonic expansion of the record, which often takes a darker tone. Unconquerable propels itself on a scuzzy melody as Wilson and Honeyblood’s Stina Tweeddale exchange lines; together, they challenge unrealistic expectations placed on women by asking 'are we forever to tread the line between being human and being divine?' While initially revelling in small details, scuzzy rock stomp All Dressed Up Tonight (Better Than I Ever Did With You) sees Wilson defiantly declaring 'if I was your girl, I would set myself free'.
Alongside these more strident melodies are passages of hushed yet undeniable beauty, from the twinkling cover of French singer Barbara’s Dis, Quand Reviendras – Tu? to the haunted, finger-plucked soundscape of Stars Are Nonzero. Even in these moments, Wilson’s messages retain their power, not least on the sweeping Little Hawk, which builds into a heady squall and sees Wilson declaring: 'I burst out 'cause I’m wilder and richer than you had foreseen'.
With The Departure, Wilson has indeed crafted a constantly captivating experience that's rich in both sound and spirit.
Listen to: Little Hawk, All Dressed Up Tonight (Better Than I Ever Did With You)