Words: Isobel Waugh
Lucy Dacus’ fourth solo album, ‘Forever Is A Feeling’, is an ode to love and longing, somehow surpassing all expectations.
In her own words, “Most art through time has been motivated by love, so it’s not like it’s new material.” Love has always been at the core of poetry, and Dacus captures this timelessness perfectly in ‘Forever Is A Feeling. The album, however, is undeniably new material, as it marks a noticeable departure from indie rock to a softer, acoustic sound that places lyricism at the centre.
The album is distinctly different right from the get-go, beginning with ‘Calliope Prelude’, an ethereal string instrumental that sets the tone for a classically influenced album. In tracks like ‘Big Deal’, Dacus lulls the listener into a new world—at once incredibly intimate and universal. ‘Big Deal’ explores the painful realisation that things may never quite be the same again after such a confession, as Dacus questions, “So what changes, if anything? Maybe everything can stay the same / But if we never talk about it again / There’s something I want you to understand / You’re a big deal.” The love Dacus sings of is a selfless one, marked by a sincere admiration for another human being.
The classical references do not stop there, as Dacus refers to the Italian painter Amedeo Modigliani, known for his portraits characterised by long faces, in ‘Modigliani’. Dacus’ superb lyricism is on display here, weaving biblical allusions and artistic references, as in “Modigliani’s melancholy / got me long in the face.” With friend and boygenius bandmate Phoebe Bridgers on backing vocals, the album explores love in all forms. Featuring a more experimental, syncopated rhythm, this track is a personal favourite—it is refreshing to see platonic love treated with the same artistry and imagery as romantic love.
The album’s title track – a subtle reunion itself (!) – features all members of boygenius, with Baker and Bridgers both on backing vocals. With a cosmic sound and an upbeat progression, it is the musical embodiment of falling in love. The foremost message of the album is that love transforms, regardless of whether it lasts forever, because “forever is a feeling.” Baker, in a relationship with Dacus, also features on backing vocals in ‘Most Wanted Man’, a song conveying the desire to truly know a person inside and out. Dacus returns to her familiarly personal lyricism, painting vividly colourful summer images that shine brightly through the track.
The album even features Hozier in ‘Bullseye’. Although a break-up track, the song is romantic to its core and captures the tenderness for another person that can remain long after they have left. Dacus’ and Hozier’s vocals complement each other smoothly, creating a truly captivating and heartbreaking song.
Long-time fans and newcomers alike will find endless ways to connect to ‘Forever Is A Feeling’, which thoughtfully explores love as beautifully daunting. After all, is it not the uncertainties and risks we take that make love so rewarding?
Rockstars HQ 
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