Released: August 9
In a triumphant return to pop, Will Young channels the music that has shaped him as an artist and soundtracked his life for what ranks among his most jubilant and candid work to date.
Arriving on the back of his covers collection ‘Crying On The Bathroom Floor’ and subsequent 20th anniversary retrospective and UK tour, ‘Light It Up’ sees the original pop idol return to his first love and embrace his penchant for pop wholeheartedly.
“I’m remembering my roots of pop and completely welcoming it,” he says of the project. “For me it was about finally feeling more content and being able to go back to embracing joyous unashamed pop music. I really hope this is the go-to pop album for a dance, for a cry and for a celebration. I know I do all three with it.”
That’s evident on lead single Falling Deep; a euphoric anthem that channels the essence of the ‘80s and is carried by Will’s soulful vocals, as he sings of being infatuated with an all-consuming lover: ‘In my head, he’s onto me / And there’s nothing I can do…’
Teaming up with new collaborators pHD, and reuniting with Andy Cato of Groove Armada and Jim and Mima Elliot, ‘Light It Up’ captures the essence of Will’s past efforts, bottling an innate sense of nostalgia while remaining strikingly fresh. Layered harmonies over driving synths on Feels Just Like A Win reflect the juxtaposition of a lyric that celebrates the end of a toxic relationship, while a melancholic delivery on Talk About It is underpinned by pulsing synths on one of several ‘sad banger’ moments that Will executes to perfection.
The playful Midnight is oozing with personality and charm, as Will sings out the inner dialogue of a single man in his 40s navigating aspects of life from ageing to dating and the challenges of being a plant dad, for one of the most endearing moments on the LP.
Title song Light It Up and penultimate number Everything But You are strong pop anthems that lend themselves to the sonic universe of the project, while a handful of mid-tempo numbers – notably The Worst and closing number I Won’t Let You Down – offer a change of pace that, although not as instant as some of the other material, showcase a different aspect of Will’s songwriting and vocal, and push home the deeper meaning behind the music.
An artist known equally for his ballads as he is his bangers, ‘Light It Up’ has something for everyone and although a handful of tunes shine brightest on first listen, as a body of work it’s strikingly cohesive and Will’s delivery remains standout.
