The new album by L.Y.R., their third commercial release, begins with the idea that the furthest points of light – stars – can only be seen in the dark. It’s a kind of contradiction that finds musical expression in these new tracks, the band always navigating towards sightings of hopefulness and constancy in an increasingly bewildering and storm-battered world.
The term dark sky reservation has its origins in environmentalism, and several tracks on the album deal with the messed-up weather of our contemporary planet, both meteorological and psychological, from descriptions of an earth deluged by thunderstorms to the soggy back-gardens of suburbia, a climate crisis brought on by rampant urbanism. In that context, dark sky reservations are those regions of the landscape where light pollution is discouraged and even outlawed, to allow scientists and casual stargazers to peer into the cosmos and see the glory of the constellations, patterns of light that have entranced and mystified us for hundreds of thousands of years.
It’s from those designated zones that human beings get a sense of their place in the universe, and experience the wonder of the here and now against a context of eternity and infinity. An alternative to the hectic craziness of everyday life, so often virtual and synthetic, the dark sky reservation is a place of refuge and dreaming, and like L.Y.R.’S music, such spaces are earmarked for contemplation and thoughtfulness.
Through the subtle lyrics of the title track the words take on another meaning, to do with doubt, uncertainty and hesitation – a questioning of the soul and the self. The term reservation also hints at an appointment – a time and place, a remote location, after twilight – where music and language might rendezvous and combine to make something harmonious.
However much Armitage’s lyrics nag away at the conscience and observe the shaky human predicament, Pearson’s hypnotic, mesmerising compositions and Walters’ ethereal soaring vocals always reach for beauty and melody. Or when minor chords are struck in the music, Armitage’s poetry steers in the direction of consolation and redemption. So lovers try to connect in the alienating world of commercialised art (Guernica Jigsaw); a cinema-goer is bamboozled by the choice of spernatural films on offer (Blah! Blah! Blah!); the heavens open again (French Cursive) and again (A Walled Garden); a litany of metaphors honour those citizens of the world without a roof over their head (Eclipse); a collared dove throws off the shackles of its own name (Collared Dove); daydreaming is celebrated as an art form (Under Artificial Lighting); and the human heart shines brightly (Sirius Alpha, Sirius Beta). Out of the gathering dusk comes forth illumination.
All songs by Simon Armitage, Richard Walters and Patrick J Pearson
Published by Mute Song / Sentric / Angry Mob Music LLC
Engineered by Patrick J Pearson and Richard Walters
Produced and mixed by Patrick J Pearson
Reviews
A flair for evocative contrasts and metaphors illuminates the third album from poet laureate Simon Armitage’s verse-and-music trio. The title references optimum viewing sites for stargazers, teasing at themes of human wonder and the cosmic. The record ranges fluently from the Elbow-ish title track’s wide-eyed twinkle to A Walled Garden’s rain-dappled folktronica and Sirius Alpha, Sirius Beta’s celestial romanticism.
Record Collector – 4 stars ****
A deep, churning river of twinkly melody and multi-layered story-telling that reveals more depth with each listen.
The New Cue
Dark Sky Reservation is an admirable release. Across Pearson’s soaring sounds, the well-paced switches between Walters’ singing (which evokes elements of This Mortal Coil) and Armitage’s wilfully undemonstrative poetry are often remarkable.
PROG
Simon Armitage lends his warm Yorkshire tones and evocative spoken words as ear-prickingly as ever on L.Y.R’s third album, part of a vocal tag team with Richard Walters’ resonantly emotive, melodious tenor... Their interwoven narratives slope across Patrick J Pearson’s William Orbit-esque electronic backdrops and stylish instrumental brushstrokes... A calmingly contemplative listen.
Uncut -8/10
Simon Armitage, singer-songwriter Richard Walters and multi-instrumentalist and producer Patrick J Pearson work up a broad palette of sounds and settings for their third album Dark Sky Reservation.
The Arts Desk
Combining gentle indie-folk with more stirring, art-rock energy reminiscent of The Fall, it’s an atmospheric collection that perfectly captures the wonder of the dark sky and the hidden stories within it.
HiFi Choice – 5 stars *****
Dark Sky Reservation is both a continuation and a refinement of the trio’s distinctive hybrid of spoken-word poetics, ambient electronics and fragile, melodic songcraft. Its recurring motifs create a sustained atmosphere that truly rewards deeper listening.
God is in The TV – 9/10
A third album that coaxes wonder from darkness... The strength of music like this is in the moments where we as humble beings gasp as the beauty of the words and the music entangled as one... A slow-burn grower, Dark Sky Reservation extends L.Y.R.’s orbit.
At The Barrier
