Reader, if you don’t know this about me now; you should know that i buy books because the covers are pretty and I like albums with cool names. This is exactly what happened with more than a body in glass. Melrose’s more than a body in glass is a stunning exploration of transition and transformation, encapsulating the lead songwriter Samuel Wells’s journey into adulthood. Spanning five years of recording, from 2018 to 2023, the album reflects the evolution of Wells’s artistry, both sonically and lyrically. The themes of loss, identity, and constant change are woven through the project, creating a rich mosaic of emotion and introspection.
One of the album’s most haunting moments is the lyric “Actress or name caller?”—a line that lingers in the mind long after the music fades. It captures the raw vulnerability and introspection that permeates the project, inviting listeners into Wells’s personal journey. This lyric, alongside others, feels like a glimpse into an artist grappling with the complexities of identity and self-expression. The full length songs are elements I appreciate and furthermore show just how much time was put into this. In the soul of the project you can feel the changes that melrose has experienced.
Musically, more than a body in glass showcases the refinement of Melrose’s sound over a decade, balancing intricate arrangements with an emotive core. Tracks like “What’s Your Favourite Place” stand out, blending thoughtful lyricism with melodies that feel simultaneously nostalgic and forward-looking. The album feels like a living, breathing entity—dynamic, layered, and deeply personal. It’s a testament to Wells’s ability to channel change into art, capturing beauty in the messiness of life.
More than anything I am particularly drawn to the thematic pattern of the track titles, and how each and everyone of the song’s names represent a different stage of growth or falling in love such as “teething”, “again”, “flood(I don’t know everything)” . these themes don’t even have to particularly be about romance or transitioning because they can describe just about anything. I am infatuated with the packaging and arranging of tracks in this album, admittedly more than the lyricism and sound. If I were to sell someone on this project, the provocative title and the track titles would be more than enough.
Written by Nthatile Mavuso
