For Those I Love

For Those I Love is an electronic, dance album by For Those I Love (Dublin-based songwriter/producer/vocalist David Balfe). It's a eulogy for his best friend, Paul Curran, who killed himself. Like on the debut album of The Murder Capital this tragic event can be found back in the core of every song (lyrics and atmosphere). Musically this album contains spoken word, not rap, over music that varies from post-dubstep soundscapes that remind of Burial to more up-tempo beats that sound a bit like Kae Tempest. Despite the lingering tragedy this is not a depressing album, but it shows processing of grieve, paying tribute to the deceased and celebrating life.

This was awesome. I loved the cadence and flow on this one. A lot of people don’t like spoken word, but this one really connects.

You would have to be extremely cold-hearted not to be moved by this album whose bulk is dedicated to the loving memory of the artist's best mate, gone too soon. Yet what's most striking about this record is how life-affirming it is, in spite of -- or maybe *because* of -- its tragic source of inspiration. Opener "I Have A Love" says it all in the first minute of this electronica / spoken-word record. That person who tragically took his own life can't exclusively be defined by his afflictions. He was also a powerhouse of energy, mischief and positivity when things were right. At least, that's how the artist who recorded this touching LP remembers him... What follows this opener is worthy of your attention as well. Musically speaking, the artistry comes off like a potentially less sinuous / more streamlined version of Mount Kimbie (at some point mentioned when David Balfe reminisces about times spent with his friend), mixed with more post-dubstep influences. Things admittedly get a little less interesting in the middle section of the album... But starting with "The Shape Of You" (no, not that one stupid song, lol), and even more to the point, "Birthday / The Pain", you're back into greatness again. Those circling strings over an almost disco rhythm pattern are pretty effective. And once again, very life-affirming. And so is the emotional core of the album (and best track on a musical standpoint), "You Live / No One Like You", coming up right after "Birthday / The Pain". The memory of departed ones always live on when their inner light has shone enough around them during their lives. That track does a lot of justice to that idea. After that, closer "Leave Me Not Love" feels more like a remix of the opener than a different song, but given the subject matter of this record, it's pretty natural going back full circle, I guess. Thanks to the user suggesting this. I can see why someone would be smitten with this record. Ireland has plenty of great artists and musicians to offer to the world right now, and I'm glad I am familiar with one more of them today. Check out For Those I Love's last album *Carving The Stone* by the way. It's broadening the scope to more political dimensions related to Balfe's homeland, and it's not bad either. 3.5/5 for the purposes of this list dedicated to essential albums, rounded up to 4 8.5/10 for more general purposes (5 + 3.5) ---- Number of albums from the original list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 465 Albums from the original list I *might* include in mine later on: 288 Albums from the original list I won't include in mine: 336 ---- Number of albums from the users list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 110 Albums from the users list I *might* select for mine later on: 117 Albums from the users list I won't select for mine: 258 (including this one -- it's a very nice record, but I don't think it has all the requirements or cohesiveness needed to make it to this list -- but if you limited a 500 albums list to Irish artists only, it would sure be included, along with *Carving The Stone*). ---- Émile, *quatre* nouveaux messages pour toi au dessus, du *Solid State Survivor* de Yellow Magic Orchestra au *Atrocity Exhibition* de Danny Brown

For Those I Love is impactful for sure, doesn't really work for me as a piece of music, it's a spoken word story with a backing track that suits, but really it's a bit limited for me to connect with. 2 I think.

Very heartfelt and I fully respect what it's trying to do, but also can't really say it's for me or that I got literally anything out of it.

Like The Streets but highly emotive. Great!

very cool and very irish. synth beat hiphop with excellent rhetoric

Favorite Track: I Have a Love

Deeply personal. It feels like this is something that artist made for just themself. Unique and essential. Great listen.

Electrónica. Curioso... Me ha gustado. Un 4, venga.

Rating: 7/10 Best songs: I have a love, Birthday/The pain

I am a sucker for these spoken word albums, being a big fan of Arab strap. This is right up my street and an album Iv listened to a few times since it came out.

This was an interesting piece. To begin with I thought it was about growing up in the troubles but a quick google showed it was about the self-death of the artists best friend. I felt compelled to listen even though it was a slightly jarring style and I soon settled into the rhythm. Any album that makes you want to know more deserves more stars.

Not bad

Not something I would pick out from a lineup, but listened to this while going for a run, and kinda enjoyed it

This had some charm, although I'm not sold on the Irish Beat poetry lyrical delivery.

Irish jump scare

Not bad

Irish Electronica that felt extremely Caribbean for some weird ass reason. Just didn't find it very compelling.

Very sad yet loving tribute, incredibly personal - but cutting right to it: I find it hard if not impossible to penetrate; the music is nice enough but quite literally a patchwork of hundreds of samples so it has very little cohesion for me and it's obviously not remotely the focus here. I can see how this would be attractive in theory but - I mean this in the most respectful way possible - to me this borders outside of music; it's more an endless speech (soundtrack?) and tribute with a series of backing tracks and therefore makes it not something to sit and listen to. Honestly this is an incredibly touching personal document and work - well made, even - yet at the same time how can anyone that's not actually a friend of the artist choose to listen to this more than the one time? 5/10 2 stars. IMO: Belonged in the book? No.

More Electronica that makes me go, uh ok

The electronic backing tracks caught my interest on this LP, but the lyrics felt so stilted and corny that it killed the whole project. I can see some version of a spoken word project blending incredibly well with the sensible, interesting instrumentals, but this iteration is not it. I'm rarely driven by emotions/narratives when I listen to music – I get what Balfe is going for in his delivery and what stories/message he's trying to sell, but it's just not hitting for me.

It's The Streets' Irish cousin with more beat poetry and harsh accents.

yeah sorry I hated this