Petals For Armor＜Indie Grey Vinyl＞

Hayley Williams artful and deeply personal solo debut, 2020s Petals for Armor, reportedly comes on the heels of a period of deep self-reflection for the longtime Paramore vocalist, and it shows. Along with Paramores breakthrough chart success with their 2013 self-titled album and 2017s After Laughter, Williams and the band endured three frought lineup changes. It was also during these years that Williams married, divorced, and saw her beloved grandmother endure a life-altering injury. She brings all of these experiences to bear on Petals for Armor, digging with poetic intensity into the depression and self-doubt that have often clouded her success. Joining Williams is Paramore guitarist Taylor York who also takes the helm as producer. A fluidly inventive instrumentalist and songwriter, York brings the same level of empathetic creativity to Williams work here as he does with Paramore. Also on board are Paramore touring bassist Joey Howard (who shares at least half of the co-writing credits), drummer Aaron Steele (Ghost Beach, Fences, Ximena Sarinana), and cellist/violinist Benjamin Kaufman. Together, theyve crafted a series of intimate mood pieces that pair Williams candid lyrics (she also plays guitar and keyboards) with arty post-rock arrangements and evocative adult-contemporary flourishes. Theres a palpable sense of exploration on Petals for Armor, as Williams includes nods to the progressive Baroque pop and funky dance music of artists like Kate Bush, Tori Amos, and David Byrne. Cuts like the opening Simmer and Leave It Alone have a narcotic dream energy, punctuated by menacing bass grooves and icy string accents. They also showcase Williams continued growth as a singer, her resonant voice pulled down to a hushed lilt one minute and a soaring, mellifluous shimmer the next. While theres a sculpted precision to many of these songs, they are balanced with a frank emotionality. On the dancey, Latin-inflected Dead Horse, Williams details a toxic relationship, singing Every morning I wake up/From a dream of you/Holding me underwater/Is that a dream or a memory?/Held my breath for a decade/Dyed my hair blue to match my lips/Cool of me to try/Pretty cool Im still alive. Also helping to illuminate Williams softly cathartic sound are singer/songwriters Phoebe Bridgers, Lucy Dacus, and Julien Baker who sing back-up on the flowing, downtempo orchestral track Roses/Lotus/Violet/Iris. Its a textured, nuanced song, rife with an empowered and explicitly feminine eye for detail. Williams sings, I think of all the wilted women/Who crane their necks to reach a window/Ripping all their petals off just cause He loves me now, he loves me not. While theres certainly an audible sense of collaboration on Petals for Armor, its Williams ability to turn her dark, personal moments into anthems of survival that stick with you. As she sings on Watch Me While I Bloom, Im alive in spite of me/And Im on my move/So come and look inside of me/Watch me while I bloom. ~ Matt Collar

リズム重視のアプローチも含め、パラモアのシンガーがこの時代ならではのポップ・ミュージックに取り組んだ初のソロ・アルバム。脱バンド・サウンドを、プロデューサーに迎えたパラモアのギタリスト、テイラー・ヨークと追求している。それが物語るものを想像しながら耳を傾けると、いっそう聴き応えあるものに。ジュリアン・ベイカー、フィービー・ブリジャース、ルーシー・ダカスの客演も聴き逃せない。
bounce (C)山口智男