Music
‘The Wake’ is a 13-track album encapsulating everything Foy Vance is, has become, and who he hopes to be. There is a distinctly acoustic feel to his seventh album, giving the record an organic warmth. As a vocal powerhouse, Vance sounds clean yet raw throughout, while the production from Ethan Johns is stellar. ‘The Wake’ continues Vance’s evident influence from the church, filled with biblical imagery and spiritual undertones, while also delving into other key areas of his life such as fatherhood, love, and self-reflection, making for a deeply personal album.
The eight-minute opener ‘A.I.’ makes a bold first statement. It begins with a groovy electric guitar instrumental before shifting into something closer to a prison yard lament. The reference to artificial intelligence gradually reveals itself as a harmonised refrain of “aye-eee, eye-eee”, lifted by beautiful backing vocals that give the chorus a gospel feel. The track balances humour with sincerity, even taking a playful jab at artificial intelligence, yet the overall effect is soulful and human. The spoken reading of In Defence Of The Cranefly, delivered by Jon Plunkett, adds to the sense of contained chaos. ‘A.I.’ feels like a manifesto for the record’s themes of humanity, doubt, and faith.
Vance’s favourite track, ‘I’m Not Celebrating’, strips things back to voice and guitar, placing his emotional delivery front and centre. It’s a deeply vulnerable reflection on a fractured relationship that has run its course. He strikes a careful balance between acceptance and nostalgia, knowing when to let go – “I can’t be your enemy when the truth of me / Is that any will to fight / Is long since gone”, while still wanting to preserve the memory of what once was – “Just lie here bathed in natural light / Until the rising of the moon / Savouring the moment.” The restraint in both the arrangement and performance makes the song one of the album’s most impactful moments.
—
—
There are several points where Vance lays his heart completely bare. Tracks such as ‘I Think I Preferred The Question’ and ‘Money’ lean into emotional honesty, carried by strong instrumentation that allows the weight of the lyrics to land fully. These songs highlight his ability to make personal reflections feel universal, never overstated but always sincere.
‘I Ain’t Sold On Time’ brings a shift in tone, landing somewhere between gospel and Americana. With its campfire-song simplicity and call-and-response energy, it becomes one of the album’s most immediately catchy moments. The melody is infectious and communal, echoing the record’s recurring themes of faith, time, and the search for meaning.
In contrast, the album also makes space for quieter, more reserved moments. Standout track ‘Call Me Anytime’ is a beautiful ballad built around the complexities of fatherhood. Vance offers an incredibly honest admission that he is not a perfect parent, yet the song is filled with tenderness rather than regret. It plays like a familial love song, grounded in the idea that despite flaws and distance, he will always be there for his children. The simplicity of the arrangement only strengthens the sincerity of the message.
Across its 13 tracks, ‘The Wake’ feels reflective without becoming heavy, and spiritual without losing its sense of playfulness or humanity. Foy Vance leans into the rawness of his voice and the looseness of live-feeling production, resulting in a record that is truly honest. It is an album rooted in faith, family, and self-examination, delivered with the kind of soulful conviction that has always defined his work.
8/10
Words: Melvin Boateng
—
—