Pompey

Genre: folk/singer-songwriter Label: Anything Bagel

Gentle in voice and strong in character, Montreal, Canada’s singer/songwriter, Pompey, has had an expansive career as a musician and songwriter. With a heartfelt and soft demonstration of candor, Pompey returns with the release of his latest full-length album, ionlyfitinyourarms. In the works for 2 to 3 years of exchanging the patience of writing for a therapeutic outlet, every bit of denial, pity, loathing, honesty, hope, and contemplation is laid out in its bareness. Through songwriting that is both confessional and outspoken, Pompey is there, giving voice to the dualistic devil/angel on each shoulder, to share his most genuine self in the midst of beautiful anti-folk songs.

Beginning the album hauntingly sparse and breathtakingly gentle, “please don’t forget about me” renders the tone for a complex and vivid album to follow. With additional vocal features from Shaina Hayes and partner and bandmate Thanya Iyer creates a tender collection of voices that battle the convolutions of loneliness. “And what if you have my voice in your ear? /  If you can hear me and you can see me / Am I there,” Pompey sings in a sense of dissociation from what is present and whole. 

This need to escape, to which is present throughout most of the record, is a concept that feels often exploited in art; straightforward to the most saturated angst. But where Pompey stands apart from other direct desires is their need for back and forth confessionals; a therapeutic give and take. Songs like “snug tug” and “body/belly” flips back and forth between wanting to run away from his body to moments where he sings “I wonder where I’d be without my body”. Filed down to self-forgiveness, these sparse sonic embodiments are dutiful to affliction, but enshrined in the understanding from our own relatable personal insecurities. 

Most of the time, Pompey’s sense of self is unsteady. Without misconception, things such as a pair of pants, sewing projects, and losing your keys have developed into objects of defeat for him. The songs are simple, tactfully pulling apart the things that Pompey has spent years thinking define who he is. With the ability to be impactful and touching without hiding behind metaphors and colorful language, Pompey’s writing stands a testament to sincere internal dialogue, through criticism, doubt, vindication and all.  “Do you stretch your shirt out / Before you put it on? / ‘Cause i do / I learned it from my mom,” is an uncluttered portrait on the song “snug tug”. Honest songs like “tall wall” and “i’m feeling see-through” that follow are striking with their bare bones expression and reluctant empathy towards himself. 

Where Pompey’s writing thrives though is when he gives the insecurities a glimpse into comfortability. “i only fit in your arms”, the earnest title track, is a song dedicated to remembering what matters most. When fixated on internal blemishes, Pompey finds refuge in his partner’s arms; a place built around trust, warmth, affability, and most importantly, a perfect fit. With a melodic shift towards composure, “i only fit in your arms” stands in as infinite gratitude for those that love us the most. “mother’s day”, a shift in topic but emotionally fervent as any, is a love letter to the subtle teachings that mother’s leave behind. With respect to character, “Thanks to you / I’ve got thanks for you,” Pompey sings with the most gentle care. 

ionlyfitinyourarms is one of the most raw pieces of art that you will hear this year. Going beyond the home recordings and demos, the rawness comes from the gentle approach to internal infatuations, whether glamorous or not. Heartfelt, somber, and blunt; yes. But ionlyfitinyourarms has an underlying sense of comfort that becomes most apparent after a full listen-through. What remains as the album comes to its end is a collection of songs that represent progress; something that is so vital to this type of writing for both the author and the listener. Separating our inner insecurities or dilemmas into physical representations not only solidifies distance, but offers a face to our own foe. Pompey’s therapeutic endeavors to separate rather than fester makes ionlyfitinyourarms a beautiful, sincere, and inspiriting self portrait to be hung up for years to come.