Review Summary: And I'm addicted to remembering like some idiot oracle
Paul Dempsey is something of an open book of dishevelled, dog eared chapters. A scribbled and well penned journal, with a heartfelt mention of the wider breaking world. When he sings, you feel the inner torment or twisted joy that is held within a deep down place. The first chapter seems to be voiced in “Idiot Oracle” when Dempsey proclaims,
‘I got myself good / And lost for words / I got a suitcase full of happily-ever-afters.’ A seemingly vague reference to his ability to have a plan for everything, when everything goes wrong. “Morningless” allows Dempsey to swoon
‘Just keep your head above the night / Don't tell anyone you're alive / Let the sun make it right’ in ode towards the dissonant nights that keep you awake with a swirling debris of thoughts. A wall of intricate guitar play and thoughtful counter calls from the rhythm section hides the real secret of Dempsey’s brilliant lyricism, taking the spotlight and leaving you inquiring over and over again, wondering how it all feels so personal.
The second chapter seems to be a true awakening from the sleeplessness found in “Morningless” as Dempsey implores beauty in “Blindspot” with a true connotation of romanticism and the lover is desperate for the attention of his muse;
‘Every time I catch your eye, it’s like staring into the sun ‘til I can see right out the other side.’ 'Strange Loop' is a true voyage of travellers notes into the dark and wonderful, covering extraordinary emotive recall that can sporadically bring peaks and troughs throughout the journey. Dempsey covers the whole spectrum and pinpoints the heart with emotions and fills the brain with questions, which is an expectation for any Dempsey record.
