Julie Byrne’s ethereal folk reached its temporary zenith in the closing minutes of her second album, »Not Even Happiness«: »I Live Now As A Singer« that floated on wide synth pads as the 33-year-old American sang: »And yes I have broken down asking for forgiveness, when I was nowhere close to forgiving myself«. And who was instrumental in her development as an artist? Her producer and life partner Eric Littmann.
That was in 2017. What followed was the most difficult time in Julie Byrne’s life. The recording for her third album is underway. Then Littmann suddenly dies. Byrne withdraws completely. Her third album »The Greater Wings« is just being released and builds pretty much on the very last moment on her second album in terms of sound. Byrne completely discards the narrowness of folk on this album. Everything opens up again. Wide open. Expansive. And yet still withdrawn. Introverted. The richest universe lies dormant within us.
Julie Byrne processes Littmann’s death and her grief with this album. The first nine songs alone shake us to the core. Neither Cat Power nor Sharon van Etten caress the soul like this with their sound. Then: »Death Is The Diamond«, Byrne at the piano, words so fragile, so lost in reverie, so vulnerable. After those five minutes, everyone is lying on the floor crying, so unhappy with life, so happy with life. It is more than just a highlight of the album. This record is Julie Byrne’s masterpiece up to this point.
