Fenne Lily: Big Picture track by track review

Fenne Lily is a British indie artist currently based over in America. Known for her confessional style of writing, she has likened her albums to being like personal diaries. It means that they are each deeply personal affairs and now she has released her third diary 'Big Picture'. We thought we'd take a look at it track by track.

 

Map of Japan

We're instantly greeted by a flow of rhythmic guitar that instantly feels instantly meditative. "Figuring out this life without giving it a good try isn't working out this time" Fenne declares. It seems as though she's following the album title of Looking at the 'Big Picture. She dreams of escaping to Japan with someone, as they both feel tired of life's repetition. 

 

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Dawncolored Horse

We feel so close to Fenne's vocals here that it is as if we can see her breath at the end of each note. "It's alright if you don't wanna remember that nothing's forever after all". It speaks of the distractions we need to keep from being overwhelmed with the existential dread that life brings. 

 

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Lights Light Up

The lightly finger-picked melody here is a whole other level of pleasure. It is all too easy to compare the experience of this album do for to one of therapy. It seems as though it is a space for Fenne to ponder the point of what makes life worth living, with all the highs and lows considered. It's a philosophical line of questioning she takes.

 

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2+2

"Airplane movies make me cry" is not a lyric you'd expect but it's definitely one of the funniest moments so far. We're back in this meditative state where it feels as though the sound is revolving around you. Here she finds herself in a state of wondering, unsure of what to do with herself.

 

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Superglued

You would be forgiven for thinking that these songs were starting to feel a little too similar. Whilst the melodic guitar playing is satisfying to listen to, there are obvious limitations with the sense of familiarity songs are starting to have with each other. Her strength as a storyteller is her main asset.

 

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Henry

The piano takes over this track, immediately casting a shadow over the whole song. There's a lot of empty space in this arrangement which allows sounds to linger. We hear some visceral imagery in Fenne's lyrics, as if she has a photographic memory of the events in her life.

 

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Pick

One of the most up-tempo tracks to date, we get a heavy reverberation from the guitar. Fenne is nervous to show someone that there are reasons to be alive. It's a song with a lot of sincerity, this album hasn't been centred around her own needs but the needs of those around her too. 

 

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In My Own Time

A song which speaks of the need to take life at your own pace, there is no race to get to where you want to be. There's a great deal of simplicity in the life that she wants to lead. The track is equally as unhurried in its approach too, with each element slowly orbiting the others.

 

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Red Deer Day

There's an especially satisfying twang to the guitar in this track. We feel closer than ever to Fenne's voice, its own blend of relaxing whilst also full of trepidation. "Told you I was alright with a small life". We've seen across this album that Fenne is in no rush to race towards the future.

 

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Half Finished

A track that is laced with self-doubt, it is arguably the most intimate song on the album. A doorway straight into Fenne's anxieties, loves and fantasies. It is rare to get this sheer level of access and it more than justifies the tag she has of calling her albums diaries. 

 

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Overall, this is a fantastic insight into the mind of a soul searching for answers to questions that many of us have. On 'Big Picture', Fenne Lily pokes at the idea of life, its meaning and how to make the most of it. Ultimately, we all think of our limited time here in our own way and this album allows you space to be able to ponder away. It may not be the most instrumentally engaging album but t is the perfect companion for a late night/afternoon.

 

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