Forever I Wait

Forever I Wait is a fitting title for Martina Topley-Birds first album in over a decade, and only her third full-length of original material, as 2010s Some Place Simple mainly consisted of stripped-down reworks of songs from her first two records. This album represents a total shift in Topley-Birds creative process and work methods. Its her first record to be self-produced and self-released, and it came together over several periods in her life, as she moved from her native London to the United States, and eventually relocated to Spain. Contributors to the album include Massive Attack co-founder Robert del Naja, Deep Dish collaborator Richard Morel, Baltimore-based IDM artist Benjamin Boeldt (Adventure), and Swedish producer Christoffer Berg, who previously worked on albums by Fever Ray and Depeche Mode. None of her collaborators dominate the sound of the album, however. Topley-Birds music is still a beguiling mixture of brooding electronic rock and heartfelt, vulnerable lyricism, and more so than ever, Forever I Wait feels directly drawn from her own perspective. On opener "Pure Heart," she sings about her desire for a fresh start, referring to herself as a "lost artist." "Weasel" is more sly and seductive, with slightly breathy vocals over serpentine bass and detailed beatwork. The sluggish thump of "Free" and the dubwise pulse of "Love" are closer to the trip-hop shes always been associated with, and the mood ambiguously feels isolated and comforting. "Game" is more upbeat and catchy, but it feels like pop music on Topley-Birds own terms. String-driven closer "Rain" is both thankful and nostalgic, as she sings about finding peace within. The albums mixture of hope and world-weariness reflects the hard road Topley-Bird has traveled throughout her life, though it refrains from addressing specific incidents or occurrences. The majority of the album was written and recorded before the sudden death of her daughter in 2019, so it isnt a direct reaction to the tragedy, unlike former partner Trickys cathartic 2020 effort Fall to Pieces. As it stands, Forever I Wait is an emotionally varied work that takes all aspects of life into account and strives toward a peaceful resolution. ~ Paul Simpson