Lia Narcissus: Almost Real (Album Review)
‘Almost Real’, the third album from the Utah-based Lia Narcissus creates a disorienting mood. Inspired by Simulacra and Simulation by Jean Baudrillard, the album grapples with the concept that perhaps reality has been displaced by a simulation that is artificial and misleading.
“ Truth and reality are hard to pinpoint. You can say facts and figures are true and real but information is so easily manipulated and you can switch over to an exaggeratedly solipsistic empirical view of reality, but I think if we are being honest with ourselves, all things are secondary to our emotions, including our sensory intake. There is no objective truth and reality is quickly becoming more confusing and we are left to figure it out. I guess some lyrics on the album are lower manifestations of this.” Lia Narcissus explained about the themes that encompass ‘Almost Real’.
‘Almost Real’ unfolds with the track ‘Uzumaki (Fair), a loving tribute to Junji Ito's horror manga of the same name. The opening guitar chords are hypnotic though the vocals carry a sensation of melancholy. The combination of these sentiments establishes a captivating album, where the perspectives mentioned are misconstrued.
The focus on layered instruments and unique song structures gives ‘Almost Real’ an aura that resembles lo-fi. Many of the tracks on the album begin with a series of guitar chords that gradually build in tempo and move on to be incorporated with drums and vocals. When this repertoire of sound is met with Lia Narcissus’ clever lyrics and gritty vocals, it creates a feeling of claustrophobia.
“I perform and record everything on my own. Everything was recorded on the cheapest thing I could get, none of the instruments on the album are mine beside a pair of mismatched drum sticks.” Lia Narcissus commented about his recording experience. The nonexistent budget of ‘Almost Real’ only adds to its distinctive grainy sound.
The album takes a solemn turn on the last track ‘Blue (Real)’. The song has a sharper sound than the others. Perhaps this was done intentionally to distinguish the blurred realities that inhabit the album’s narrative.
Lia Narcissus describes Blue (Real) as, “ The only song from the album that I can say comes from a genuine emotional place. I've mentioned how all the other songs are from perspectives misunderstanding feelings, but I think the person in Blue (Real) is the only character on the album who understands their problem. Those lyrics, in particular, are an attempt to show genuineness.”
With its innovative narrative, ‘Almost Real’ is a remarkable album that does not shy away from challenging listeners. Lia Narcissus holds a lot of promise and is a valuable addition to Utah’s local music scene.
The album is available for streaming on Bandcamp and Spotify
