Finlay Birch has sat on these songs for nearly a decade, and it shows in the best way. Nothing here feels rushed out the door. Weight Will Unwind is his debut album, recorded over ten days on the Isle of Mull, and it has that same unhurried, windswept quality the island is known for. It’s a really lovely listen front to back.
The title track is the obvious standout, and it deserves the BBC Radio Scotland airplay it’s getting. That chorus opens up at exactly the right moment and just sounds huge. But “Inside Your Mind” might be my favorite on the record. The verses stay low and almost talked, never rushing to a big swell or a key change, and that restraint makes the song land harder than a more dramatic version of it would.
“Two Magpies” and “The River” lean into the indie folk side of things, and that’s where Finlay Birch’s songwriting really shines, full of small, specific details that stick with you. The alternative rock moments hit just as hard in a different way, giving the record some welcome energy and range, and “HDN1” is the one that surprised me most, a little rougher and more unpredictable than its neighbors, and it’s become one of my favorite tracks for that exact reason.
This is one of those albums that gets better with patience. Put it on during a long drive and let it sit with you. Once it clicks, it really clicks. Worth your full attention. Go follow Finlay Birch on Instagram and add this to your rotation.
Follow Finlay Birch: Instagram – Spotify
