Cathartic songwriting. A dreamy, generous, heart-pulling listen.
The new song cycle from Stephen McAll tackles addiction and recovery, mental health, parenthood and the impact of kindness. His previous album “Neither Is, Nor Ever Was” (2021) and his collaboration with Scott William Urquhart on “Even Days Dissolve” (2023) could be called alternative folk. This record is harder to call.
Musically this album is tranquil, almost pacifying, the ghost of Eric Woolfson in McAll’s voice. There are also beautiful supporting vocals from Kathleen Stosch and Amy Campbell. Unpacking the lyrics, “The Smile You Send Out Returns To You”, can leave the listener scrabbling around for hope. There’s not, despite the title, too much to smile about. The accompanying videos to the double A-side single (‘Whole Be’ and ‘Patient Has Own Supply’) released back in August 2024 are stark, but McAll’s words in context will resonate with many.
With funding from Creative Scotland, McAll wrote the bones of these tracks in a remote cabin. Back at his studio in Stirling he collaborated with others to piece together the album. The funding extended to a month’s stay at Dandy Sounds, Dripping Springs Ranch, Texas and the input of Dan Duszynski to help complete the album.
In addition to the singles, ‘All Is Well’ is another stand-out track. Making references to Sisyphus and codeine within a couple of lines is no mean feat. The cycle and inevitability are beautifully explained with almost Orwellian lines: “They’re watching, so you don’t have to/It’s not coming, its already here/ Stand up, or take the knee”.
The album artwork by Heather Nevay is quite stunning but the animated cover art is a bit unsettling. McAll has generously provided the complete 38-minute album on YouTube with animation. How this album comes across in a live setting must be worth the price of admission.
