Album Review: Lewis Capaldi - 'Broken by Desire to be Heavenly Sent'
Lewis Capaldi returns after a four year absence on May 18th with his sophomore album Broken by Desire to be Heavenly Sent. A musical sensation by any measure, Capaldi's highly anticipated follow up record to his 2019 Divinely Uninspired to a Hellish Extent is a continuance of what everyone should love and expect from the Scottish singer-songwriter.
It was in March 2021 when Capaldi announced he was postponing a number of scheduled performances in order to work on his next album, and loyal fans of the singer's will not be disappointed with the result. From beginning to end, the album's lyrical matter employs recurring biblical imagery, comparing the experience of love and heartbreak to that of a religious experience.
The record can be divided between those detailing the all-consuming adventures of romance, love, and heartbreak. In a series of pop, blue-eyed soul ballads, Capaldi delves deep into the trials of tribulations of a blossoming relationship in 'Heavenly Kind of State of Mind' and the woes of a love not destined to be in 'Burning'.
Commencing with the record's lead single 'Forget Me', the record progresses with the track 'Wish You the Best', which relays the all too familiar feeling of remorse when wanting to divulge all of one's thoughts to an ex-partner but knowing it's best not to. When Capaldi sings 'it's like Glasgow gets farther from LA' it is a testament to Capaldi's catapult to stardom; perhaps where the reality of fame and its accompanying obstacles has taken its toll on the singer's romantic pursuits. This theme of unrequited love is neatly contrasted with the next track, 'Pointless', where we hear a refreshingly endearing serenade to Capaldi's romantic interest; a nice juxtaposition to the previous two tracks. The subject matter of self-improvement is explored throughout the song ('she makes me a better man') whilst also touching upon Capaldi's previously spoken about battles with poor mental health ('she takes away my pain'). This concept is continued in 'Heavenly Kind of State of Mind', which deploys the extended metaphor of falling in love and comparing it to religious practise.
However, this sense of emotional and romantic bliss is not without its complications, specifically the fear of entering a new relationship in the aftermath of heartbreak. 'Haven't you ever been in love before' addresses the preconceptions we take into love and how these have the potential to jeopardise our next relationships. The second half of the record is an unadulterated demonstration of Capaldi's vocal ability. Taking a step back from reflections of love and loss, Capaldi offers a moment of self-reflection in 'The Pretender', providing an insight into the singer's state of mind. The singer addresses the societal pressures to mask your flaws and fit into its ideals, implying a sense of imposter syndrome that we experience throughout our lives and our intimate relationships. In an unexpected turn, 'Leave Me Slowly' pays homage to the great ballads of the '70s, akin to that of Michael Bolton or Lionel Richie. The track testifies to Capaldi's rhythmic range and, in my view, the finest of his songwriting capacity.
Although, it is the final two tracks that are personal stand outs for myself, and I believe will be among most fan favourites. In 'How this Ends', Capaldi recalls the demise of a romantic relationship against a beautiful string accompaniment. Capaldi's rich and soulful vocals compliment the gospel inflected instrumentation perfectly throughout, putting to rest any doubt of the singer's vocal ability and range, if there were any. Finally, Capaldi once more offers introspection with 'How I'm Feeling Now', appropriately titled to depict his well discussed battles with poor mental health, a topic also discussed in his newly-released documentary of the same name. In a full circle moment, Capaldi's neat self-reflection ties up the record; 'here's to my beautiful life...it seems to leave me so unsatisfied...if you were wondering how i'm feeling now'. Capaldi's astounding and spirited vocals almost mask the lyrical content, in which the singer admits that he continues to struggle with his mental health and how this dictates his worldview on life, love, and fame.
In many ways, Broken by Desire to be Heavenly Sent is a prolongation of Capaldi's debut project, returning with emotional powerhouse ballads. However, its lyrical content demonstrates a growth and maturity we had yet to see from the singer. Fans shan't be disappointed with the record as, alongside two hit singles, it brings with it the best of the Lewis Capaldi we know and love, with an emerging lyrical and thematic confidence to resonate with and admire. The album drops this Friday and is suspected to be an immediate chart topper.
Words by Laura Maxwell
