Canadian musician Alex Henry Foster released his new concept album ‘Windows In The Sky’, on 1st May! This dark yet enlightening album is a post rock journey through the trauma of losing his father, and the creativity that emerged as a result of this isolation in Tangier.
The album begins with ‘The Pain That Bonds (The Beginning Is The End)’. This is a chilling track that was written after Alex spent about a week in complete isolation. The song deals with inner struggles and the need to set yourself free from sorrowful depression. Although there are some hints towards hopefulness in the lyrics, this is outweighed by the sombre sounds and the despair in his voice. It is an eye-opening first track.
The same dark sound is continued in ‘Winter is Coming In’ with the soft vocals and reflective tone. The lyrics tackle deep topics such as being a victim of abuse, having an inability to establish an intimate relationship, and entertaining the idea of taking your own life. These melancholy themes make it a very hard hitting listen.
‘Shadows of Our Evening Tides’ is a song free from time and space. It features American poet Allen Ginsberg reading his most famous work, ‘Song’, creating a unique immersive experience. The lyrics reflect on finding peace while grieving, and losing what can’t be replaced. Delicate messages which are sure to strike a chord with everyone. This links in with ‘Summertime Departures’, an intense song about questioning his own identity after his father’s death. Both tracks express the need to find a way of letting go, and this is evident in the sorrowful vocals.
‘The Hunter (By the Seaside Window)’ is an impressive 15 minute long track capturing Alex’s lifelong struggles with anxiety and depression. This tortured, frantic and emotive song has a somewhat fatalistic tone with the hunter representing the light, and the prey representing the darkness. His inner struggles are referenced throughout but with a slightly more positive angle that the sea inspires a redeeming cleansing, making it one of the more enlightening tracks.
The following track, ‘Snowflakes in July’ is defined by three stand out moments in Alex’s life. These are, witnessing the passing of his father, his father’s funeral, and the scenes in the airport before his flight to Tangier. In all of these moments he experienced no sound, only feelings of emptiness. Underneath the slightly more hopeful lyrics are fears of forgetting and losing these moments, times which are significant in his life.
‘Lavender Sky’ is a peaceful track about accepting things that we don’t know and can’t control, and defying our fear of the unknown. The delicacy of the music makes it a particularly poignant track as we near the end of the album.
Finishing off ‘Windows In The Sky’ is ‘The Love That Moves (The End Is Beginning)’. This song is the perfect way to conclude the album, it sums up the journey that the previous songs have conveyed and is demonstrative of who Alex has become. Although the album is a sombre listen, it isn’t without purpose. This is a very personal album, it is not one that everyone can relate to but that’s what makes it unique. It is the story of one man’s journey, and no matter how chilling it is in parts, there are glimmers of hope throughout.