Waiting for Smith—Raised Up

I love music, especially that organic nature of discovery. I was listening to the QI podcast and right at the tail end, one of the guests mentioned their son's new single release and I have to admit curiosity got the better of me. Maybe it's nepotism at it's finest, the Dad being the legend that is John Lloyd, associated with many of the great comedies from Not the Nine o'clock News, through to Black Adder and then QI, to name but a few, but I checked out the band and am glad I did.

Waiting for Smith is the brainchild of Harry Lloyd. Former Ski Instructor, who after breaking his back, struggled with mental health and found happiness and healing making music. I love that story, one further re-enforces the power of music.

The album opens with the first of ten tracks, Let the Light In, and maybe I'm enveloped in the backstory, but immediately you can feel the weight lifting. An effortless blend of light, breezy music and comforting vocals. Maybe Harry won't thank me, but there's a strong Ed Sheeran vibe, however his vocals are mostly even softer. Another Sheeran trait, is the rapid vocal delivery, often used on his tracks, and present here in Some Words, not that that's a negative, more an observation.

Raised Up continues the wash of relaxed and calm. It's an upbeat track, but there's a continued theme present throughout the album, a warm hug of optimism. Harry's vocals also remind me of a band in the 90s whose name eludes me, especially in the track White Light of Love, and I can hear the band signing this, but with a more pop delivery. The name will come to me eventually, usually once I press the publish button.

I can continue on a track by track basis, but I don't think there's any real need. This album reminds me what it is to be in the moment, listening to an album, an artist's vision, rather than jumping like a squirrel from track to track in an ocean of music. Ending with Ocean's Release, it serves as a perfect way to wrap things up.

The album is 10 tracks, lasting a little over 31 minutes, and I can't recommend it highly enough. Take some time out, grab a nice pair of headphones and a cup of tea, and just let yourself be reminded that music can help to ease the savage beast that is life... at least for a while.