Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10
Those Growing Pains we suffer, the aches of maturity, the sentiments of personal grief and niggles, are for the most point angst turned inwards, it is our soul learning to deal with ageing and the world around us viewing our presence in a different way.
Few are willing to bear the sting of growth and see it as a positive, to fully embrace letting go of the past and stride with confidence into the future; it takes a mindset fully conversed with the hurt of their life to create a moment that is spectacular, that nurtures the intended recipient’s own spark of imagination to the point where it catches fire and lights up the distant dark in such a way the listener sees the illusion for what it really is, a hive of absolute activity, and not a single pain in sight.
Helen Maw senses this understanding with a passion, prepared to extend out a hand in comfort to aid others in their own fight against doubt as they come to discern their activity has left them drained, but not satisfied, because they have not found the truth of fulfilment, of the art that can act as a pleasure seeker and removes the pains from our existence.
The new album, Growing Pains, embraces the wit and sensational voice of the artist at hand, and immediately there is a relief to be found burning in the heart as the tracks that make up the album, as the dynamic music that fills the air, so Helen Maw entrusts her own battle and thoughts to the listener and rightly finds that the fire burns bright in both directions.
Across tracks such as the opener Mine Tonight, the subtle beauty and presence of This Lonely Boy, Your Little Secret, a grandstand of lyrical cool in Fool, Things You Never Said, and the knowledge of separated humanity in Second Thought, Helen Maw’s insight, her sense of timing, is to be acknowledged as absolutely aware of her time, of her space in the listener’s mind.
Growing Pains is the result of sheer activity, and as the album plays out, that activity is strenuously proud, defended, and spreads harmony to whom it finds in pain.
Helen Maw releases Growing Pains on April 12th on meadows Records.
Ian D. Hall