“A killer album with a moving story”: Gia Ford’s ‘Transparent Things’
Gia Ford, a Sheffield-born alternative pop artist, recently released her debut album ‘Transparent Things’ on September 13th to the anticipation of fans.
Photo by Melanie Lehmann
The concept album explores the figures who find themselves on the fringes of society. They are experts in a life of alienation celebrating what society has said should make us feel uncomfortable. Forever treated as either second-class citizens due to their unconventionality, or just as invisibles floating through life like ghosts. Ford creates an odyssey of outcasts, where we can find more truths about ourselves within her poetic lyricism then lies.
Opening the album with a taste of the wild, ‘Poolside’ sounds like a modern spin of an ancient sailor’s song, with a steady drumbeat picked up by a killer electric guitar. Standout lyrics, ‘so kiss me now, or I’ll blow your brains right out’ explore a love fuelled by madness, a feeling shamed normally but within this single is glorified. Hallucinatory harmonies add to the feeling of the unnatural, delving into this character on the outskirts of society for either her flamboyance or maybe just her psychotic tendencies when it comes to infatuation. The album picks up with the staccato notes and punchy lyrics of ‘Loveshot’, unveiling all of society’s darkest secrets with a satisfying guitar riff which laces the background with a grunge feel.
The tone lowers with the dream-marbled lull of ‘Alligator’ which weaves the tale of a mystical predator finding its freedom. The relentless bass riff and Ford’s beautifully controlled vocals sound like floating, giving listeners the trippy feeling of uncomfortable peace. The single’s ending highlight’s Ford’s siren-like energy, drawing listeners into her addictive harmonies if they hadn’t been already. Next ‘Buzzing On You’ picks us back up again, exploring when love becomes an addiction. With a haunting tone the organ takes centre stage, lending the song a grandiose gospel feel which gives Ford a maturity most artists strive for years to prefect. With a mournful piano and the gentle strum of the acoustic guitar, the next single ‘Falling In Love Again’ lays with the funeral lilies bringing a moment of self-reflection and therapeutic pain to listeners. This single is seemingly the heartbreaking aftereffects of ‘Buzzing On You’ where the love has died and she has entered a period of self-isolation, haunted by what once was and unable to heal from the torrid love affair.
‘Paint Me Like A Woman’ shows the divine metamorphosis of woman to villain, brought on by society’s abuse and centuries of oppressed female rage. A nostalgic electric guitar, a furious piano and a punchy drumbeat paint the song red, infusing it with the anger behind a whole gender and the wild freedom of finally being able to express it. In a cacophony of guitar riffs and pounding drums, ‘Try Changing’ is the most upbeat song on the album yet. This song conveys when you fall in love with a broken person, you are fighting to save them, but some people just don’t want to be saved which continues the overall concept of alienation. The album moves into the world of new money suburbia with ‘Housewife Dreams of America’, exploring the ugly truths of isolation and a life not designed for a woman’s benefit. The song has a mirage feel with flat notes and gothic harmonies further highlighting the unnatural.
‘Don’t Drown Me Out’ is a song of desperation, opening stripped right back with her deep voice accompanied by a delicate piano and guitar. Strings are added as the song builds portraying her growing pain and feelings of hopelessness. With a lower tone and folky feel, ‘Porcupine’ tells the story of lying in your loneliness. This character is always on the periphery watching the weather changing alone and refusing to get attached to anyone just in case they leave them. ‘Transparent Things’ end with ‘Our Mutual Friend’ as the powerful curtain call. Built to stun arenas of people with this funeral march psychedelic masterpiece, the song romanticises and humanises the grim reaper, welcoming this entity of death as something of peace not suffering. The beautiful concept of a life of alienation closes on this final note as there is no one more shunned than death.
So go and give Gia Ford’s ‘Transparent Things’ a listen to experience a killer album with a moving story.