Paul Thomas Saunders - Beautiful Desolation Album Review
The last thing that I thought Paul Thomas Saunders' debut album 'Beautiful Desolation' would bring to mind is a movie soundtrack; namely reminiscent of the synth-soaked score to Nicolas Winding Refn's 'Drive'. After all, Saunders was, until recently, living in Leeds and was best known as a singer songwriter with a guitar. But it seems he's got a much bigger vision for his musical career than following a well-trodden path. Instead, he's reinvented himself to produce an ambitious and arresting album that, for the most part, exceeds your expectations. It's a bold statement of intent and avoids many of the pitfalls made by new artists.
It's those synths that are the heartbeat of the record too. While at first they may sound a little too familiar, or even derivative, the feeling of 80s nostalgia doesn't last for long. There's a dreamlike quality to Saunders' multi-tracked vocals on opening cut 'Kawai Celeste' as they soar above the swathes of distant guitars and percussion. We're definitely in Dream Pop territory here, but unlike some of his more mellow contemporaries, Saunders is keen to point out it won't all be a good trip. He keeps reminding us that, "If I could, I'd break your heart" as he muses on love and death. In the space of 5 minutes, it's pretty clear this isn't your usual introduction to an artist.
While lead single 'Good Women' is more straightforward with its allusions to choirs of angels and a laid back groove, it reinforces some key themes to be found here. Overt religious references are scattered throughout the album, but there's also more subtle references to children and sight which Saunders cements with the line: "I swear I saw my child in her eyes". It's also not the first time that Saunders' concoction sounds remarkably similar to the likes of Doves. The wistful guitars and big choruses demonstrate a confidence in the sound he's developed; there's very little trial and error as he already seems to have refined the approach he's taking.
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Paul has been interested in the world of music all the way through his teens; from singing in Lichfield's Cathedral School choir to writing his own music at 16 and enrolling at Leeds College of Music where he, alas, felt he was 'in chains all of the time'. 'I just didn't feel I was gaining too much', he explained to us in a recent interview, though he remained in Leeds for five years and even wrote his upcoming debut album 'Beautiful Desolation' in the city. He released his first EP in 2010 and in recent times has shown his face at various festivals around the UK (and Texas' SXSW Music Festival) and performed alongside the likes of Bombay Bicycle Club, The Staves and Lanterns on the Lake. New single 'Good Women' marks his first release on a major label: Atlantic Records.
