Number 3 on my top 6 album list of 2019, is the second full length album from British artist, Shura.
So, after the last post I thought I would get back on the path of writing about my 6 favourite albums of 2019 again. It wouldn’t look good for this carry over into 2021…
I want to take a slightly different approach to writing about this album. Listening to Shana Cleveland’s ‘Night of the Worm Moon’ and MUNA’s ‘Saves The World’ (two of the other albums I chose) for the first time, I was captured by how good they were on a technical and songwriting level. Whilst I do think this album easily sits alongside these two in both respects, the difference is that upon first listen I fell in love with ‘forevher’ for alternative reasons.
I first heard ‘forevher’ a few weekends after it’s initial release, whilst catching up with a fortnight’s worth of new music and a bit of vacuuming around the house (it can’t always be sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll). I distinctly remember spending the afternoon listening to both this album and Bones’ ‘KickingTheBucket’. Whilst enjoying the latter, ‘forevher’ gripped me emotionally, and to be honest, I still don’t quite know why. Sometimes all the metaphorical stars seem to align and music eclipses whatever else is happening at that moment in time.
I think there was a certain point upon listening to this album that it really yanked the heartstrings, and that was listening to the track ‘Tommy’. It tells the story of a man (no prizes for guessing the name of this gentleman) whose wife passed away some time ago. Shura tells us that after tapping up his high school sweetheart (also widowed), they initially feel guilty about finding love again. However, sweet old Tommy tells of how he is visited by his late wife in a dream, who urges him to find love again, because:
I’m in heaven without you but
Just take your time
I’ll be alright
It’s a straightforward and wholesome story, but presented in such a lovely way. Those are the moments that stand out on this album the most. When Shura sings of simple experiences and feelings. At its centre, the album is about Shura’s own experience of falling in love and the colourful spectrum of emotion this brings. In fact, the album gives the same kind of happiness and warmth that you feel when someone close to you finds love. Wrapped up in love’s tumultuous early embrace with all the giddiness, excitement and worries that accompany it. They may talk to you for hours of every little detail and concern they have, but it’s never a bother to you. Sometimes the purest joy, is in seeing those closest to you so happy.
The track ‘BKLYNLNDN’ documents Shura’s long distance relationship between her lover in Brooklyn and herself in London. It encapsulates the nervous energy and joy of an embryonic relationship. The distraction of being preoccupied with thoughts of the picture you received earlier in the day, but also touches on the paranoia that accompanies this type of relationship. Are they thinking about me? Why Haven’t they responded to my text? What if I have this all wrong? The lead single, ‘religion (u can lay your hands on me)’ also follows the long distance relationship discussion, albeit on a more singular, passionate level. Shura sings of not being able to have a sexual relationship with her lover as well as the idea of love and devotion, and the shared parallels with religion in these respects.
Moving away from the ideas that are explored in the album, it’s also musically brilliant. Shura’s first album “Nothing’s Real” had a focus on a more traditional synth-pop feel, whereas “Forevher” moves in a slightly different direction. The album as a whole, feels more dream-like. There’s still a healthy amount of hooks and grooves, but a greater feeling of sparsity overall, although this works in it’s favour. It allows Shura to tell more honest stories that shine through in each track. Back-to-back tracks “tommy” and “princess leia” feature almost no percussion at all and this is where the album is at it’s most ethereal. Shura briefly steps away from the central themes of falling in love, and this gives the middle of the album an almost daydream-like daze.
Going back for re-listens, I’m always drawn towards some of the bass sounds on the album. “side effects” features a grooving bass line that is half pulsing funk, half 70’s porn. It guides the track tremendously well, atop some more subtle, yet brooding sub bass trembles. “religion” also features a similar feel and it all gives the first half of the album a seductive, late night feel as it confidently eyes you from across the room. Despite this, the album doesn’t descend into a seedy x-rated video tape and stays on track with portraying emotions and experiences on a transparent, yet meaningful level.
The album overall has a pure and light, summery feel that begs to be listened to in the sunshine with a cool glass of wine. I was immediately a fan from the first listen. Whilst, I hadn’t heard of Shura before this album, I went back through her short discography pretty shortly after hearing it. As mentioned, “forevher” is a departure from the sort of sounds and energy present on Shura’s first album and if she continues on a similar evolution, I can’t wait to hear future releases. She has quickly cemented herself as an icon in the LGBTQ+ community and this album has gone a huge way in securing her in the mainstream consciousness as well. The choice of instrumentation throughout is excellent, but it is the heart on the sleeve style narratives and emotional expressiveness that made it a personal favourite for me.
Sit back and listen to this one on a lazy afternoon and remember how lucky you are to have your significant other. Alternatively, prepare for the roller coaster of falling in love when the time is right. Love comes with a huge amount of excitement, fear and sometimes inevitably heartbreak. However, without it we wouldn’t be so lucky to have such a rich history of artists choosing to celebrate, study or mourn it in almost every creative medium. ‘forevher’ is another is just another in a rich tapestry in this sense, but it is definitely one that you should seek out.
Thanks for reading! As always, please support the artist. I have copied the link to Shura’s music page below and the album is available for streaming on all good music platforms. Please let me know your thoughts, or if there’s any bangers that you’ve been listening to!
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