Somebody’s Child’s - When Youth Fades Away Tracklist
1. The Kid 2. Last Night I Held Your Hand 3. Porcelain (Losing All My Patience)
4. When Youth Fades Away 5. New Orleans 6. Wall Street 7. My Mind Is On Fire 8. Irish Goodbye 9. The Waterside 10. Life Will Go On 11. Time Of My Life

Dublin's Somebody's Child, led by Cian Godfrey, returns with their sophomore album, When Youth Fades Away, set for release on March 28, 2025. This album marks a significant evolution from their self-titled debut, delving into themes of ageing, self-reflection, and the passage of time, balancing the exuberance of youth with the creeping realities of adulthood in brilliant detail.

Produced by Grammy Award-winner Peter Katis, known for his work with The National and Interpol, the album offers a rich sonic landscape and it's as ambitious as you'd expect. Something that's evident from the record's opening track, The Kid, a song brimming with energy and youthful defiance, yet underscored by a subtle sense of foreboding. Propulsive drums and reverb-soaked guitars drive the song forward, mirroring the restless optimism of youth, while Godfrey’s lyrics hint at the fleeting nature of it all.

From here, the album leans into vulnerability with Last Night I Held Your Hand and Porcelain (Losing All My Patience) as we begin to see towering pop sensibilities reminiscent of early U2 with Godfrey's commanding vocals taking lead as a scintillating backdrop of guitar driven melodies are set alight. 

Elsewhere When Youth Fades Away demonstrates a slow-burning meditation on the passing of time, its steady pulse and layered instrumentation evoking the sensation of watching life slip through your fingers. There’s a hypnotic quality to the song, reminiscent of LCD Soundsystem’s All My Friends, as it builds towards a cathartic climax. 

Showcasing the true dynamics in his capabilities, New Orleans is a perfect moment to slow things down with its sense of intimacy that gradually builds in intensity through rolling percussion, before ramping up the pace once more on Wall Street with its energetic guitar riffs. A track that perfectly sets up My Mind Is On Fire which sees another soaring pop effort lift the roof off with its anthemic status. 

But just as the energy peaks, the album pulls back with The Waterside, a track steeped in melancholy. It’s a moment of quiet introspection, where Godfrey’s voice takes centre stage once more against gentle strings and subdued elongated guitars. There’s an aching loneliness to it, but also a sense of peace, as if accepting that some things - and some people - are meant to fade into the past. It’s this ability to balance sadness with beauty that makes the song so afflicting.

With still gas in the tank, Time of My Life closes the album with a triumphant, yet wistful, sendoff. It’s a song that embraces the contradiction of nostalgia - a euphoric instrumental outro serves as the much needed catharsis, wrapping up the record in a way that feels both complete and hopeful as it culminates in to an explosive finale. 

The band’s evolution is striking, with richer production, emotionally charged songwriting, and a newfound confidence that cements their place in the indie landscape. More than just a reflection on growing up, When Youth Fades Away is a celebration of what it means to keep moving forward, even when you’re not quite sure where you’re going. And we're all here for it. 

*****