After the groundswell of adoration for his album debut Life After Defo and the live shows that followed, Songs is his second record of intensely slow-burning gems.
Where the former was more affiliated with those seamless blenders of dreamy synth-pop, R&B and soul, Songs adds elements of singer-songwriter tradition to his irresistibly yearning electronica. “It wasn’t a conscious decision,” says Daniel Woolhouse. “But I’ve become more accepting of my voice, so it’s more prominent now, which led to structuring the songs in a more classic way. I also wanted people to hear the lyrics. It’s a process of being more upfront and honest.”
As if to underline his singular mission, Songs’ artwork echoes that of Life After Defo, being by the same artist, Jordan Kasey. “I wanted a continuation. I wanted something figurative, but that resembled a landscape too. It represents to me a connection between the physical self and it’s surroundings, which is one of the album’s themes.”
Over 11 chapters, from dark to light and various points in between, Songs is a unique landscape of the mind, body and soul, and one of 2014’s most beautiful.
