Dylan James

Dylan James takes tentative steps on his debut album 'Expected To Fly'.

A singer-songwriter's ability to convey their distinct voice, their emotional conviction to a moment, not to mention charm and the ability to produce a show-stopping hook, is what separates the good from the great.

Whether you love or loathe the likes of Bruce Springsteen, Taylor Swift, or Ed Sheeran, you would have to admit that they come with an unmistakable lyrical style, bags of charisma, and the ability to make the personal universal.

The Bristol boy is surely looking to reach heights similar to those of the greats in his profession, but as the saying goes, Rome wasn’t built in a day, and 'Expected To Fly' still has its proverbial scaffolding in place.

Across ten tracks, we hear themes of dealing with mental health, gaining the support of others, the uplifting joy of that special someone, as well as the increasingly regular stalwart of seizing life by the scruff of the neck.

The artist seeks to delve into some personal territory but struggles to offer anything truly catchy, fresh, or captivating. Two lines from ‘Hide’ showcase James’ potential, as well as his work’s pitfalls.

The musician exclaims:

“I’m just a tear from falling apart A snowman in a suit with a broken heart..”

The first part is an incisive poetic line that invites the audience into the storyteller's mindset. The second line, however, belts it out with all the subtlety of a bullhorn.

Unfortunately, awkward lyrics are a persistent problem throughout the LP. Things range from the vanilla hook on ‘Black Cloud’ to a heavy-handed line on ‘I’m NOT Superman’. In the latter’s case, James opines, “I’ll be your Wall Street trader, The Messiah, I’ll be the saviour, Your Mr Maker.”

If the artist were attempting to make the point that money is next to God in today’s society, then this could actually have been an astute observation, but sadly, it’s not. Instead, the whimsical line feels a bit too out of left field, if not forced.

Elsewhere, ‘Make Up Your Mind’ attempts to be the album’s rallying cry to seize the day, but with questions like “are you gonna be a nobody for the rest of your life, a washed-up deadbeat who’s lost the spark in his eye?” it comes off with less grace than a Job Centre work coach.

The songwriter does his best to bring his words to life, but his vocally strait-laced sincerity is no match for some of the more cumbersome writing. A bit of good humour and a metaphorical wink at the audience would've gone a long way towards conveying the album’s worthy subjects.

To ensure the musicality remains strong throughout, Matt Owens, bringing his experience from Noah and the Whale, lends his hand in the production booth, ensuring that the album carries a consistently, pleasant sound throughout, even if not every track hits its mark lyrically.

'Expected To Fly' features a mix of low-key pop, rock, and acoustic numbers. Listeners are also treated to the harmonica, and who doesn’t love a frisson of harmonica?

'Painted It Gold' opens proceedings in a chipper fashion with an enjoyable guitar buildup, sunny piano accompaniment, and a payoff from a wind instrument that could charm any folk music lover's ear, whether it echoes the hum of bagpipes or the squeeze of an accordion. The tune is a slick lo-fi charmer that proves a quick highlight.

It all comes together nicely on the album’s best moment ‘’Boys Yard’. Tinged with techno, the rocker is for those who dreamt of scoring a worldie at Wembley and are content to emulate their heroes from their back garden.

The track is upbeat, and just a little bit playful (listen out for the computer game sound effect). Whether he means to or not, James manages to evoke The Enemy’s Tom Clarke. Avid football fans may remember the band’s sensational 'Be Somebody', that once led off ITV’s FA Cup coverage.

‘Boys Yard’ isn’t in the same league, but it’s good to see the record pull out some crowd pleasing tricks late on. Ultimately, though, it proves to be 'Expected To Fly's' consolation rather than its winner.