More than 35 years into his career, Gruff Rhys is still finding ways to surprise people. Having masterminded a weird-pop moment with Super Furry Animals before embarking on a solo career studded with puppets and soundtrack work, ‘Sadness Sets Me Free’ is his latest left-turn.
Rhys’s vocal style still has that uncut gem charm of a Bob Dylan or a Randy Newman, but here he pairs it with a showy grandeur more akin to Father John Misty’s ‘Chloë And The Next 20th Century’. Throughout the album, he uses slide guitar, strings and keys to furnish his lamentations, which are both poetic and accessible, while never settling into any one clear-cut genre.
“I tendered my resignation / As I felt I'd gone beyond what's respectful in a relationship,” he clumsily squeezes into one verse, making I Tendered My Resignation feel as relatable and awkward as a break up does.
Meanwhile, Cover Up The Cover Up uses the plainest words possible to make his feelings known. “Reinvent the government / And by extension / Overthrow the monarchy / And private school system,” he sings in a rallying cry to anyone who will listen.
And yet, as dark and downtrodden as much of the album is, there's an uplifting lightness to his manner. Whether it’s in the form of an escape or a reassurance that you’re not alone, there is comfort to be found in the Tropicália of They Sold My Home To Build A Skyscraper or the ethereal strings of Celestial Candyfloss.
Starting and ending with the sentiment that gives the album its name is a nice full circle moment that makes repeated plays tempting, and while ‘Sadness Sets Me Free’ offers a worrying confirmation of a world in turmoil, Rhys’s ability to communicate in such relatable terms makes his latest work a salve.
Gruff Rhys Upcoming Tour Dates are as follows:
Wed February 07 2024 - LONDON Kings Place
Sat February 10 2024 - MANCHESTER New Century
Wed February 14 2024 - BELFAST Empire Music Hall
Thu February 15 2024 - DUBLIN Sugar Club
Fri February 16 2024 - DUBLIN Sugar Club
Sat February 17 2024 - LIVERPOOL Arts Club
Mon February 19 2024 - GLASGOW Saint Luke's
Thu February 22 2024 - BRISTOL Bristol Strange Brew
Fri February 23 2024 - BRISTOL Bristol Strange Brew
Sat February 24 2024 - NARBERTH Narberth Queens Hall
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