BY: JOSEPH DEBELL, OPINION EDITOR
Album cover from albumoftheyear.com
Bill Ryder-Jones has always worn his heart on his sleeve, but with his “Iechyd Da,” he offers more — an embrace of life’s messy emotions.
Named after the Welsh toast for “good health,” this record reflects on a life that balances heartbreak with hope.
This LP is as stunning as it is ambitious — loaded with lush soundscapes that transport listeners to the windswept seafronts and streets of his hometown of Merseyside, England.
Whether it be the haunting opening of the intro track, “I Know That It’s Like This (Baby),” or demanding vocal performances in “This Can’t Go On,” Ryder-Jones created a record rooted in memory and emotion.
The intro track includes a clever sample — Gal Costa’s “Baby.” It’s a chilling way to start a record as it quickly fades away and reappears later in the chorus. Ryder-Jones transforms this song into a multi-phased piece that ends up a highlight of the entire record.
The album’s core is its willingness to confront vulnerability head-on. Tracks like “It’s Today Again” and “Thankfully for Anthony” tackle mental health struggles and the need for connection with those you love. The children’s choir on the back end of “It’s Today Again” injects a sense of innocence enough to warrant tears as it counterbalances the album’s heavier emotional themes.
“If Tomorrow Starts Without Me” is another high point on the record — It pairs muted strings and rolling organ melodies with Ryder-Jones’ gentle vocals. The whole track reflects a loss and the rugged yet necessary part of moving on.
“Iechyd Da” is simply Ryder-Jones finding himself as a producer and songwriter. His production is more dynamic and comes across as fully realized.
Every song arrangement is rich with either stings, samples or layered vocals. This gives the entire record a cinematic quality. His production work — sharpened by recent collaborations with other artists — shines here, with influences ranging from Spiritualized to Mercury Rev to the folk-inspired melodies of Gruff Rhys.
What makes “Iechyd Da” resonate with me is its ability to ground itself in the everyday. Ryder-Jones’s pen is peppered with poetic devices and local references. Whether he’s reminiscing about relationships or narrating walks by the West Kirby seafront — in every single track — his storytelling is vivid and relatable to some degree.
The album doesn’t fade, either. “Thankfully for Anthony” celebrates the importance of having loving people in life, and its instrumentation perfectly resembles the vulnerability and misty-eye kind of thought that is.
The closer, “Nos Da” — Welsh for “good night” is a conclusion showing Ryder-Jones’ ability to create a worthwhile ending with just production.
Ryder-Jones has created a record that somehow sounds and feels like a diary, celebration and heartbreak all in one. “Iechyd Da” simply put, is a record that’s packed with as many emotions as life itself can offer.
debelljb22@bonaventure.edu
