Barry Hyde is the lead singer and guitarist of The Futureheads, and his debut solo album ‘Malody’ will be released on the 3rd June 2016 via Sirenspire Records.
Having lived with the album for a few days, it has really become something to admire. This is not a record that will fall into your lap in terms of appreciation, that is something that grows stronger with each listen.
Says Barry: “Those of you familiar with my work with The Futureheads may be expecting an album of new wave inspired, four-part harmony, guitar music. ‘Malody’couldn’t be further away from that. The album is based around my first instrument, the piano, and also features violin, cello, double bass, tenor and baritone sax, pedal steel and trumpet.”
Discussing the album’s themes, Barry explains: “What is ‘malody’? Malody is a word I have invented, derived from the words, melody and malady. A malody is a melody that expresses mental malaise, mental illness and deep sadness or its opposite, mania. I know about these things, as I am bipolar. This album is a musical representation of what it feels like to experience the extreme states of mind that characterise bipolar existence. Like many bipolar people, creativity is central to my life, central even, to my illness. This album is a bipolar album, it was written in the rare and exquisite moments of intense creativity that comes in an almost complimentary way with the highs and lows. It’s a deep, highly personal catharsis, a document of my experience.”
Side one of the album opens with the ‘Malody Suite’, which is sharply paced at some points, then deliver’s exquisite melodies at other points. ‘Theme’ is the opening segment and the opening lyrics; “How can I expect this madness to end, by staring at myself and tearing myself apart” aptly shows that this is someone letting you into his life, via his music.
Gentle and loud music, poignant and sad words, this is a sparkling solo debut and the fact that it’s the piano at the fore rather than, keyboards or electronics, this really gives the album the grandeur it deserves.
10/11
Pete
Barry Hyde ‘Malody’
01 Theme
02 Blixer
03 Malody
04 Monster Again
05 Crazy Love
06 Sugar
07 Lonely
08 Loneliness
09 While We Were Sleeping
10 Sometimes It Snows In April
11 Thunder Song
‘Malody’ is available now on CD, vinyl and download