This album came out at the start of November and I have been this month’s busy bee so have been a little late getting things done. However, before we start to move toward Christmas reviews (a massive ban on any Christmas music from my editors until December 1, no matter who is sending it!) I am going to do a review of the new Damien McFly album.
I found the press release of interest and am putting it here before I do the review.
“Damien McFly is a singer-songwriter from Padua, Italy, known for his distinctive, gritty voice and a blend of timeless folk melodies with modern indie soundscapes. Over the years, he has captivated audiences with over 500 performances across 15 countries. His debut album, “Parallel Mirrors” (2015), took him on tours throughout Europe, the UK, the US, and Canada, where he performed at prestigious festivals like SXSW. His singles “I Can’t Reply,” “New Start,” and “Leap” (2018) received widespread acclaim from outlets such as MTV New Generation, Rolling Stone, and ContactMusic. In June 2021, his single ‘On Our Own’ premiered on Billboard Italia, and by the summer of 2022, his single ‘No Connection’ was in rotation on MTV MUSIC Italia’s “New Zone.” In 2022, Damien also returned to SXSW in Austin, Texas, and after two European tours, he released his album “Frames,” which has already garnered over 800,000 streams across various platforms!
Discussing the meaning behind “Years and Years” Damien explains:
“It’s a reflection on how, even after years spent carefully choosing the people you work with and keep close, human nature still manages to surprise you — and, at times, disappoint you. The key line ‘years and years and then?’ was born from that very uncertainty, and from a deeper realization: there’s no right answer — you just have to learn to be ready for anything.”
When it comes to the creative process and powerful meaning behind his anthem-filled new record ‘for those who care’ Damien explains how
“I’ve spent days, and years creating ‘for those who care’, mainly for myself and… for those who care. I don’t mean the people who will take an interest in my music, but those who feel the need to care. To care for their family, their love, their plants, or their passion. To spread peace, no matter where they come from or what flag they carry, to help someone they’ve never met. If you dedicate even a little of your time to taking care of someone or something, this is for you.”
When you listen to any track by Damien, you’ll instantly notice how organic, and natural it feels, and this is something that he has captured again on ‘for those who care’, “The album was recorded in my living room, because after the lock-down I moved my studio back home. I live right next to a busy street, so I had to record the guitars and piano at night, and you can almost hear the cars rushing by in some of the quieter songs. The drums were recorded by Paolo Masiero (who’s been playing with me for ten years) in his studio, while the bass was recorded at my place by Riccardo Loriggiola. I really like how different the tracks sound from one another. It was a conscious choice not to limit myself or the record to a specific mixing style, and I think you can tell that the last songs I wrote sound a bit more saturated and raw if you listen closely. Compared to my previous record, there aren’t many electronic sounds, and the production has been more about making the right choices by taking things out rather than adding more.”
And now, my review!
The album has 11 songs and runs to just under 37 minutes.
I was released on November 5 and is available on all platforms.
“Superlovers” may lyrically be a song about grey skies but there is nothing grey about the song. The vocals are light and commercial, flying high and enjoying the rhythms of the track. It introduced me to the album in the way that hearing a good tune on the radio makes you want to drive that bit faster!
“Waste it on Me” is slower and has a haunting backing that takes us on a darker road than the opener. At 2.41 it is the shortest track and it took me toward a movie soundtrack for a film we have yet to make.
“Down my Spine” opened with the piano and we move into a song where the shoes are left by the doorway but there is a feeling of being at the edge of the cliff. A lonely song with more than a touch of winter in the cracks of the heart.
“Inner Flame”- I found myself instantly liking this one. It is a simple track, stripped down and simple, providing an intimacy and immediacy. It felt like sitting around that camp fire with the logs crackling and the singer with his guitar under the fading light and the sounds of the forest around us. Nice.
“I’m Getting Older” – is a sad track in many ways, although maybe that is just how I took it. There is a love song within the song and the vocal delivery is emotive and powerful. A strong track, well written and delivered, although perhaps not one I took to at first listen.
“Years and Years” has a lively folk feel to the beat. It returns to a faster tempo and brings an interesting drum beat to the general vibe. The guitar break was welcome too and I’m sure this one would sound great live. It is a stylish pop rock style track.
“In Vertigo” reflects on the changing seasons and incorporates some backing harmonies that work nicely. As a song I relaxed into it, without really connecting. It kind of washed over me; nothing wrong with that, it’s a late night song.
“Who You Are” is a song demanding attention.The music here is immediate and raw, a gentle pop punk attitude and another song that I would enjoy driving to. This was good and there were some interesting vocal plays that come later in the song.
“Enough to Stay” returns to a more ghostly place. I like the production on this one, the mix was bang on. It’s quite a busy song, a lot happening, but the instruments are varied and the hooks work well. It’s another that I think would go great live, where it would probably have a more stripped back feel.
“Rust”- “the sky is all asleep” and this song is gentle and touching. The drums provide a strong heartbeat for a song lost in memories and love.
“Powerless” closes the album with a story and an acoustic guitar. You rejoin Damien in his room, pull a box over and have a listen. It’s a warm glow of a song to close on.
Damien McFly’s For Those Who Care is an intimate, quietly powerful album that blends campfire warmth with indie polish, moving between radio-ready highs and late-night reflections. Across its 11 tracks, Damien proves again that he can make music that feels both lived-in and heartfelt, recorded with the kind of raw honesty you can almost hear in the room. As I wrote in my notes, this is an album for anyone who’s ever cared enough to feel deeply.
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Stream music from Damien McFly here
By Lorraine Foley
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