Between the Lines, is the debut album from Saint Sappho, the Glasgow based duo of Zoe Young and Tammy Bryson. an entirely DIY project recorded and produced in their home studio and independently released on vinyl and CD as well as on streaming platforms. The result of their hard work and commitment to the cause is a stunningly atmospheric collection of 13 sublime surging anthemic songs with an existential edge whose lyrics ponder identity, belonging, grief and the meaning of life and death. The soul of the songs is deeply rooted in 1980’s and 90’s alternative rock, with the duo carefully cherry picking a variety of elements from a range of diverse genres of the era, from trip hop to grunge, indie rock to baggy/indie dance to create their very own distinctly rich and vibrant sound, moody and sweepingly vast in equal measures, while also maintaining a mysterious air of hypnotic hazy dreaminess.
One of the finest exponents of similarity luxuriously compelling and soul stirring guitar music to rise out of the late 80s indie scene, with an enduring sound that still resonates with me to this day, was The Heart Throbs, a band fronted by Rose Carlotti on guitar/vox with sister Rachel DeFreitas on bass and backing vocals, who created three phenomenal albums in the course of their relatively short career, calling it a day in 1993. Why am I banging on about a band which has been defunct for more than 30 years I hear you ask? Well, it just so happens that when I listen to Between the Lines I am transported back in time to those halcyon days, it’s like The Heart Throbs have been reincarnated, with Zoe’s vocals embodying the vibrant tone and rich spirit of Rose, the charming eloquence and evocative arrangement of Saint Sappho’s music giving me a glorious feeling of déjà vu and a warm glow as the stirring sounds wash over me. In case you hadn’t twigged, I’d recommend anyone who doesn’t know of The Heart Throbs to seek them out… but only after you’ve purchased the Saint Sappho record. There is a certain serendipity in this “reincarnation” given the themes of some of Saint Sappho’s lyrics.
The duo set out their stall with the dramatic scene setter, Tomorrow, a song with a magnificent intensity that builds into a hypnotically dreamy swirling melee of instruments, and includes enigmatic lyrics that seem to speak of deciphering the complexities of life. The drama continues with the sweeping majesty of Once Again, it’s cinematic orchestral soundscape of an intro leads into a trip hop tinged exploration of the possibility of reincarnation and facing life again in the face of tragic personal loss. The emotive strings that form the backbone of Once Again are a theme across several of tracks on this outstanding collection of songs, including the albums bold title track and the triumphantly radiant and ultimately optimistic Whole Again.
People Like Us continues the sonic journey with an unassumingly moody and reflective intro, and more lyrics that feel like an ongoing journey of self discovery and finding your tribe, the song swells with an optimistic energy before its abrupt ending. The pace and mood of Slow Train lives up to its title, a slightly bittersweet song with another rousing refrain before Shoulder to Shoulder announces its arrival with Funky Drummer beats which pair with a smooth bass line to underline this rhapsodic and powerfully intoxicating dancefloor filler. As we rush headlong towards the end of side one, driving guitar riffs form an integral part of the boisterously vivacious and assertively jubilant Never Be Over. The albums title track closes out side one, and is another mesmerising slow burner, with thoughtfully delivered lyrics and a sweeping expansive and highly emotive outro.
The start of side two (for those listening on vinyl) has the duo flexing their musical muscle again, opening with Inside a Memory, one of their more uninhibited songs with an expressive vocal from Zoe, and a chorus that really opens up with the addition of strings, the vocals and melody soaring into the ether. Whole Again is an affecting acoustic guitar led ballad that weeps with the air of loss before the addition of strings brings the song to an optimistic zenith, giving the atmosphere of celebrating having had someone in your life while still mourning their loss.
Two of my personal favourite tracks in the album come in quick succession with the urgent questioning lyrics and forthright arrangement of Rewrite, with the questioning nature of Zoe’s lyrics continuing into the following song, the identity questioning Cracks with it’s a trance like looping beat from Tammy and haunting vocal from Zoe. The albums penultimate song Back to Dreaming channels the spirit of a 1990s Texas when they moved away from their blues rock into the introspective and atmospheric soulful pop era of White on Blonde, the song straddles the before and after of Texas with the inclusion of some meaty bluesy riffs as the song builds to its peak. The album closes in style with a graceful reworking of the sophisticated title track from their 2023 EP Green Door…
Between the Lines is an assured and suavely urbane debut that promises a bright future for Saint Sappho.
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