Marking our point of entry into Taylor Lally’s artistic universe, ‘Taylor Lally’ (the self-titled album) reveals a strikingly eclectic and nuanced listening experience, a collection of vibrant, introspective pieces enriched by the heightened musicianship held by the Belfast-based creative. We are actually sorry to have reckoned with Lally’s wonderful music so late; that’s on us to make peace with. That’s also why we are keen on rediscovering an album that’s been out for some time, but that never gets old. In fact, it’s rather timeless.
It’s timeless because it doesn’t pursue a specific modern formula or a fleeting trend, instead finding heartwarming refuge in a plethora of classic influences. Be it the cathartic, evocative indie folk of ‘I Know This Song’, or the acoustic rock/pop matter of ‘Too Many Possibilities’. Or, even better, the popular bossa nova grooves in ‘Dry White Wine’. Behind such a wholesome instrumental livery lies an ever deeper and varied lyrical space, with Lally unfurling a nostalgic thread of coming-of-age storytelling and societal criticism.
Whichever way you look at it, ‘Taylor Lally’ is a really good debut album. The reader won’t be surprised to hear that the Northern Irish artist gained a 2025 NI Music Prize nomination for ‘Album of the Year’. That doesn’t surprise us at all; that’s totally understandable. Releasing music via her own record label, Saturn Rising Records, Lally seems to have her priorities right, whether it’s on the creative or industry side of things.
Delving deeper into the album, she explains: “These are songs I wrote while I was growing up. They’ve lived with me through everything: heartbreak, running away, wanting more from the world, trying to make sense of it all.”
Recommended! Discover ‘Taylor Lally’ on Spotify:
