Recorded by Idlewild's Rod Jones at Post Electric Studios in Leith, "19.3" soundtracks an album that finds beauty in fragility and strength in defiance. Even though the title is dexterous and poetic scientifically, 19.3 is the specific gravity of gold, and in its many guises, this song is so emotional, intentional, and a hell of a lot like gold.
Alas, de Liona's vocals drift over an indie-pop arrangement that effortlessly combines warmth with sweetness. Because there's something hypnotic in the way she says her lines, never too quick, never too hard. There are no wasted words here. Every word feels weighty and considered, like a fact of life. It's not the love experienced through rose-colored glasses, but love in its purest, rawest form, messy, unapologetic.
"19.3" captures the emotional tug-of-war when you hold onto someone despite the heaviness and odds. This is about holding on. And the sentiment feels refreshingly audacious in an era where it's typically easier to opt for disengagement than engagement.
Alas de Liona's lyrics read like ripped pages from a diary, her melodies like the breath between confessions. You can sense the quiet introspection of a young artist who began in the sun-scorched corners of the Mojave Desert and found her voice in the rain-washed streets of Edinburgh.
As the opener to an 11-track journey, "19.3" does more than present the album. It reminds us that love does not come for free, that like gold, it is made under pressure, and that it has value. But when it does shine, it's undeniable. If "Gravity of Gold" is anything to go by, Alas de Liona is gilding the indie-pop hegemon with rare and priceless brightness.
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Alas de Liona's "19.3" touches the complexities of love
Reviewed by LyricalOdyssey
on
May 13, 2025
Rating:
Reviewed by LyricalOdyssey
on
May 13, 2025
Rating:
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