Whitley - The Submarine (Album)

Honestly I am so utterly impressed with this album I am lost for words. I have no idea where to start; do I go with it’s mesmerizing beauty? It’s emotional thoughtfulness? It’s amazingly well crafted musicianship? Or it’s captivating ambience? They’re all as predominant as the next – or last - but at the end of it all, Whitley’s debut album; The Submarine sneaks up from out of nowhere, and frankly just sticks. It’s been a long time since an album of this strength has captured my attention, and when these albums do come along; it’s something we should all embrace.

At 22 years of age, Whitley or (Lawrence Greenwood to his mum) is nothing short of astounding as a musician and lyricist. Capturing feelings and emotions and working them emotively for a listener is something truly to behold. Many artists strive for this connection to a listener, many succeed many fail, but throughout the ten tracks it almost sounds like Whitley has achieved this effortlessly, without one track letting this release down.

Opening the album with Cheap Clothes, Whitley sets a banjo in motion and whistfully “ooohhs” through the vocals, immediately capturing his own original tone, and immersing the listener into his distinct mood. From here Whitley effortlessly flows into one of the album’s many high points; second track ‘Lost in time’; whilst swapping to guitar and piano, this track has the build and pace, coupled again with whimsical lyrics, which whilst listening to, I find myself counteracting the shivers and tingles running down my back from the beautiful music, with my feet tapping along to the pumping rhythm. It’s just something special to be able to complement these two, usually vastly different reactions, into one single track, but it seems that’s what Whitley does throughout the album; he contradicts, counteracts and continually compliments, and he just does it so well.
It’s the Radio Friendly (and rightly so) track I Remember which is the absolute star on the album. I think many will be hard pressed to deny this track as being one of the most beautifully emotive, relatable tracks of the year. It’s just stunning in every way. If you haven’t heard it; make sure you do right away, you’ll be a better person for it, and if you have; well, I figure you know what I mean.

Basically the album continues to grow and develop through every song - never repeating, overlapping, getting boring, or in the slightest bit samey. The guitars, banjo, piano, synths, lyrics; the whole lot is just so carefully and delicately combined and orchestrated it’s phenomenal. Tracks will stand out on some listens whilst others will on subsequent listens, there’s just so much depth to the whole package, yet at the same time it’s somehow just so simple, again another complete contrast to what we are used to with many “standard” releases, and again; it just works. Maybe that is what’s so special about The Submarine; it’s simplicity is so effective, and it’s thoughtfulness is so deep.

Sadly the album clocks in at only just over 30 mins. It may be a nice tidy, wrapped up package, but it’s just that little bit too short making me want just a couple more tracks. I guess that’s a good thing. So until Whitley puts something else out this will just have to do…

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