Somebody's Child - 'When Youth Fades Away (Album Review)

Somebody’s Child has crafted a modern-rock soundtrack bursting with nostalgia and grooves which will have you returning again and again.

★★★★★★★★☆☆

Somebody’s Child, fronted by Cian Godfrey, has returned for their incredible sophomore record When Youth Fades Away via Frenchkiss Records. The album is a nostalgic, youthful and timeless coming-of-age story told through the eyes of one of rock’s most exciting new artists.

Godfrey and Co’s self-titled debut feels like an age ago. In reality, it’s only been a couple of years. During that time, they toured the world supporting The War On Drugs, Bloc Party and Kings Of Leon, and became ones to watch on the indie scene. Their final show of 2024, a special set at Sebright Arms, sold out almost immediately.

Looking back, their first offering barely scratched the surface of what they’re capable of, and while it was delivered brilliantly, you can’t craft a follow-up like this without the many experiences that came with breakout success. Rather than looking ahead, Godfrey chose to go back in time, right back to childhood, on his most confident project. He explains below:

“It’s like going back to your parents’ house and noticing something you haven't seen in years, and having a completely different perspective on it now that you're older. Perhaps you’ve reached the age they were upon purchasing it. Whatever it is, it formed a part of your parent’s life and had significance in their past. You may not have been there for its use, but like the yellowing of a book, it becomes highlighted by time. By recognising this, we are giving value to it."

When Youth Fades Away is the perfect demonstration of how the feeling of youth, never does fade away. Musically, it’s shown Somebody’s Child is more than rock, and maybe genre-agnostic at this point.

The record starts strong with the super-charged The Kid, an ode to embodying your childish wonders forever. From this immediate moment you’re mesmerised by the sonic evolution Godfrey’s gone through while working with Grammy-award-winning producer Peter Katis (The National, Death Cab for Cutie). His deep influence from The War On Drugs and LCD Soundsystem have come further to the surface, appearing here and later on Porcelain (Losing All My Patience) and Irish Goodbye.

Porcelain (…), in particular, is a cornerstone for the album’s direction. The single encapsulates everything the album is about and sonically features the groove and intricate guitar loops that make it so addictive. Godfrey explains: "When it was written, everything else seemed to fall into place around it. It embodies the danceability we were going for throughout, and to me, it evokes a necessity to get up and move. I remember somebody once calling it 'rave-rock', which I liked."

This style is beautifully consistent throughout, and every track has that ‘All My Friends’ vibe underpinning the melody.

While there’s plenty of ‘new’ to dig into, there are also moments of the ‘old’ too. Last Night I Held Your Hand and Life Will Go On hark back to their debut and are the most direct of them all. If you’ve seen them live, you’ll know the former translates perfectly on stage.

Elsewhere, My Mind Is On Fire is an underrated hidden gem. It could have been a leading single, but cult fans will appreciate it being nestled away in the album’s tracklist, waiting to be discovered. This is the best example of the band coming together as one cohesive unit - it’s urgent, heartfelt and emotive. The extravagant build-up is made all the more rewarding by such a roaring finale.

On the contrary, The Waterside sees the band slow down from a lively pace and offers boundary-pushing experimentation. The track has a real cinematic feel, and hearing it all come together with the yearning guitar at the end is epic. If anything, this should’ve been double the length, and the instrumentals were far too abrupt.

The final story is on Time Of My Life, also conveniently the first single we heard. Yet now, it makes complete sense. It’s an optimistic reflection on everything that’s come before, and a statement on how many feel when they’re saying goodbye to their youth. In short, this track represents your youth, fading away. Screaming of 9-5’s and remembering the ‘time of your life’. By this point, the moment has already passed, and everything is a distant memory. Without a moment to think, the record closes to silence, signifying the speed at which time can move for all of us. Through these songs (and stories) maybe you can relive those cherished moments.

When Youth Fades Away is a truly beautifully written record, one which deserves more praise than words alone. Somebody’s Child has crafted a modern-rock soundtrack bursting with nostalgia and grooves which will have you returning again and again. This was their moment to imprint themselves on the scene, and there’s no doubt Godfrey has done that. Understanding what makes it so magnificent can only be done by encouragement, to listen from start to-end.

Now, it’s your turn. Give it a spin, and tell us what you think on Insta or X.