Somebody’s Child’s self-titled debut album, released in February 2023, marked a triumphant entry into the indie scene. Two years later, the Dublin-based project led by Cian Godfrey returns with their ambitious sophomore effort, When Youth Fades Away. Following a strong debut is no small feat, but Somebody’s Child achieves this with remarkable success, demonstrating their growth and evolution both sonically and lyrically.
Produced by Peter Katis and recorded in the United States, the album embarks on a bold new direction that feels like a natural progression for the band. In a 2024 interview with God Is In The TV, Godfrey compared the shift between his debut and the new album to the transformation from Joy Division to New Order. It’s a daring analogy, acknowledging a pivot from raw, guitar-driven indie rock to something considerably more electronic, synth-heavy, and textured. The influence is evident throughout, lending the album a dreamlike yet undeniably danceable quality. Thematically, When Youth Fades Away is preoccupied with themes of ageing, growth, and the melancholy of leaving youth behind. It’s an exploration of time’s inevitable march, a concept album of sorts where each track feels like a reflection of Godfrey’s personal journey towards adulthood.
The album’s opening track, The Kid, is a powerful introduction. Its length, clocking in at over five minutes, feels almost desperate in its attempt to cling to youth. Lines such as “time keeps getting even faster” evoke a sense of urgency, as if trying to hold onto something already slipping away. While its indie-pop leanings occasionally wander into familiar territory akin to acts like Circa Waves, The Kid stands fervently on its own. Last Night I Held Your Hand follows as the album’s second single, delivering a euphoric, romantic burst of nostalgia. The song encapsulates a hazy longing, reflected in its lyrics and instrumentation, with lines such as “I thought my youth was over” and “I feel myself getting older”, suggesting the inevitable march of time. The album’s latest and final single, Porcelain (Losing All My Patience), delves deeper into the theme of growing older, with Godfrey singing, “Now I’m 29, I think about my health.” The track’s upbeat, danceable feel starkly contrasts with the underlying anxiety of confronting one’s mortality, a contradiction that, unfortunately, feels very human.
The title track, When Youth Fades Away, stands out as a euphoric, dance-driven anthem. Its structure and pacing resemble LCD Soundsystem’s All My Friends, building to a cathartic release that feels both triumphant and bittersweet. It’s a testament to the album’s danceability and a strong contender for a single in its own right. The album takes a gentler turn with New Orleans, a ballad and the shortest track on the record. Its lyrics speak to conformity and lost innocence: “I was a child all my life supposed to sign on the dotted line.” It’s a haunting moment of introspection amidst the album’s broader themes of change and resilience. Perhaps the most cathartic track on the album, My Mind Is On Fire, opens with the line, “Turning 30 in the winter.” Its slower, reflective beginning quickly builds to a danceable, euphoric release. It’s a moment of vulnerability that feels both genuine and raw. Meanwhile, the single Irish Goodbye ironically brings Godfrey’s Irish roots to the forefront, yet its emotional resonance transcends mere nationality. Its lines, “Left the party late,” “hard to explain, so I wrote this song for you,” feel like a direct conversation with the listener, a confession wrapped in melody.
The album concludes with Time of My Life, the lead single that perfectly encapsulates its themes of youth and nostalgia. Once again, the opening seconds bear a striking resemblance to LCD Soundsystem’s All My Friends. Yet, it swiftly carves out its own identity, filled with vivid imagery of youthful experiences—cigarettes, all-day drinking, dyeing hair, first kisses, playing sports, and school. It serves as both a love letter to the past and an acknowledgement that it cannot be relieved.
When Youth Fades Away is a cathartic experience, a meticulously crafted exploration of ageing that feels personal and universal. Somebody’s Child has built on the strengths of their debut, creating an album that is lyrically stronger and emotionally resonant. As the title suggests, time is slipping away—but Godfrey ensures that, at least for now, their music remains timeless.
Words by Amelia Thompson