“Nothing is created, nothing is destroyed, everything is transformed”

It might be intriguing to apply these famous words by Antoine Lavoisier to music, thus running the risk of uncovering some small truths, like realizing that it is becoming increasingly difficult to propose something original in today's musical context. One might then ask whether it is always necessary to do so, but for now, perhaps it is best not to digress and to simply acknowledge this apparent transformation of David Gray. “Life In Slow Motion” indeed seems very different from his previous works, certainly simpler, minimal, and stripped down. It is very rich and elaborate in its arrangements, mainly centered around the string orchestra, further enriched by brass, backing vocals, and piano motifs supporting Gray's singing, which remains beautiful, confident, and prominent even in this highly emphasized context.

Why this metamorphosis? It appears the album, stemming from Gray's desire to draw inspiration from Phil Spector, took this direction thanks to the producer Marius de Vries, who has a passion for pompous arrangements. Thus, Gray has left behind uncomfortable, though debatable, comparisons, like those with Bob Dylan, and the various clichés that critics hastily pinned on him after the release of “White Ladder”. Was it worth it?
For now, perhaps not entirely. In fact, the result is an honest, pleasant, listenable, serene, linear album, with some intimate undertones, but not always inspired and without high peaks of interest. Overall, it is not unforgettable, in short. Furthermore, not all of the album appears at the same level.
While the melodic construction, string development, and vocal interpretative strength of “Alibi” at the beginning are sufficiently worthy of attention, the same cannot be said, for instance, about tracks like “The One I Love”, which is essentially a low-profile radio-friendly song, or “Nos Da Cariad”, which musically evokes a bit too much of the less successful work of Coldplay. The most interesting moment of the album could be “From Here You Can Almost See The Sea” where – finally – a guitar clearly emerges and the emphasis on strings decreases, or “Lately”, an overall simple song that highlights some small, tangible emotions. But, besides these examples and Gray's admittedly beautiful voice, there is little amid these instrumental excesses.

Now, however, setting aside the transformation of the arrangements, one might question whether “Life in Slow Motion” is a true change. After all, David Gray has always been an excellent pop musician and this album is nothing but pop. Baroque, honest, sincere, well-made, listenable, not as outstanding as at times in the past, but still and only pop, as before. Perhaps with this album, it is now merely clearer. Not everything is transformed.

Tracklist and Lyrics

01   Alibi (04:33)

Stone blind alibi
I will eat the lie
Find the word
Could break any spell that binds you
Prayers like ammonites
Curl beneath the lights
How I long to
Bite any hand that feeds you more
Where d'it all go wrong
My Friday night enfant
Where d'it all go wrong
My Friday night enfant

All night buzz on a line
It's only blood on the rime
Wrecks my head every time
It leads me on
Where d'it all go wrong
My Friday night enfant
Where d'it all go wrong
My Friday night enfant

Tonight tonight
Tonight I'm running wild I'm running
Tonight I'm running wild I'm running
Tonight I'm running wild I'm running
Tonight I'm running wild I'm running
Tonight I'm running wild

02   The One I Love (03:29)

03   Lately (04:13)

If the sky weren't lit, had to find my place
I would see your face in the door
If the sun would glint on the time we spent
All the time that ain't no more
Chase the broken hearts in the vacant lots
See that fruit that rots on the tree
Try to turn my head, leave it all for dead
But it's in my mind always

Honey, Lately, I've been weighed down
Load on my mind
Honey Lately I've been weighed down
Load on my mind

Someone tell me, where did it go?
Darlin', I'm damned if I know
I seen that look in your eye
No one ever gave it a chance
I could've seen in advance
You saw it all in a glance

And Goodbye, Goodbye.

Take a salty kiss from this cup of bliss
Watching new light twist on the bridge
Try to paint it red
Leave it all for dead
But it's in my mind always

Honey, Lately, I've been weighed down
Load on my mind
Honey Lately I've been weighed down
Load on my mind

Someone tell me, where did it go?
Darlin', I'm damned if I know
I seen that look in your eye
No one ever gave it a chance
I could've seen in advance
You saw it all in a glance
And Goodbye, Goodbye.

04   Nos da cariad (04:10)

One lifetime is long enough
Is long enough to wait
The rain like silver in my ears
Fat nothing on my plate
A bucketful of Babylon
A belly full of hate
Go to sleep my one true love
And may your dreams be sweet

Then we'll be running

See its face beneath the glass
It murmurs on the breeze
Like a long black Cadillac
It passes 'neath the trees
What is it you're waiting for?
Sweet love is on its knees
Go to sleep my one true love
And find your heart's release

Then we'll be running
Afraid of nothing
Yeah we'll be running

Silence is golden
Here I am
I ain't afraid of nothing
Silence is golden
Here I am

The sun above the cotton grass
Is sinking down like lead
The seagulls know the truth of it
And scream it overhead
Hold on to St. Christopher
The sky is murderous red
Go to sleep my one true love
Our glory lies ahead

Then we'll be running
Afraid of nothing
Then we'll be running

All wired up in a dawning ray
All wired up in a dawning ray
All wired up in a dawning ray
All wired up in a dawning ray

05   Slow Motion (05:00)

06   From Here You Can Almost See the Sea (03:39)

07   Ain't No Love (03:21)

08   Hospital Food (04:43)

Just a little something for the pain
Hospital food getting you down?
Honey now I'm not one to complain
But this hangin' around
Is wearing me out

So patch me up boys take me home
Are you not hearing a word I say?
She sounds so different on the phone
I just sink like a stone
Back to the day

Tell me something
Tell me something
I don't already know
Tell me something
Tell me something I don't know

Don't seem to have that much
to show
For all the hard work, the sweat
and toil
You say 'well that's right,' and you
should know
You've been there before
You've basked in the glow
You've stood in the roar
You've tasted the snow

Tell me something
Tell me something
I don't already know
Tell me something
Tell me something
I don't already

Seeing it all so beautiful
The way it oughta be
Seeing it all so beautiful
And turning away
Turning away
Turning away

Tell me something
Tell me something
I don't already know
Tell me something
Tell me something
I don't already know

09   Now and Always (06:45)

10   Disappearing World (07:36)

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