Leith Ross – ‘I Can See The Future’ album review: Grief has never been so uplifting
Maybe it’s the slight breeze starting to nip the air as we transition into the colder months of the year, or perhaps it’s just my Scottish sensibilities, but there’s something cosy and endearing to the tone of Leith Ross’ new album I Can See The Future that intrinsically reminds me of home.
This is not because I have any connection to Canada, where Ross is from, nor do I hail from Leith in Edinburgh, the area which they are named after, but there’s a true familiarity and heart that emanates from this album, the second from the musician, following To Learn in 2023, that is bound to make anyone feel at one with Ross’ music, even if you are only just being introduced to it.
As a whole, you could be forgiven for being swept up under the blanket of the 13 tracks of this sophomore effort and snuggling with a warm soundscape for the autumn months. The influence of indie-rock production powerhouse Rostam is palpable. Equally, Ross’ tone is tenderly soft and inviting throughout; this is not the space for blitzing guitars or electric vocals. But the lyrical journey of the record ultimately tells a very different tale, one that will take you to your lowest and most vulnerable depths, before buoying you up.
The first to the penultimate song of the album is an introspective pathway through the forest of longing and yearning, cleverly bookended by the track ‘Grieving’ and its reprise at the end, touching upon the various points of being, such as ‘Terrified’, ‘Alone’, and ‘Home’ in between. Of course, in this sense, grief doesn’t have to be what it says on the tin, as far as its literal meaning: it is not only the loss of people, but also places, things, and one’s own perception of identity all playing a part.
From the outside, this seems like it has the potential to be pretty depressing. But by the time you reach the final titular track of ‘(I Can See) The Future’, the strength of feeling is not what you might imagine, for this closer brings an optimistic shift, talking of truly lifting one’s head and being able to see the sun again, bringing forth a sense of renewal and peaceful contentment.
This storytelling is bound together by an eclectic mix of sonics, ranging from country to soft pop to even the odd hint of jazz. Take a song like ‘Terrified’ as an example, which ends with a section of invigorating, soaring vocals akin to Billie Eilish’s ‘Birds of a Feather’. Then compare that to something like ‘What Are You Thinking About’, which wouldn’t be entirely amiss playing in a jazz cafe on a rainy day. On paper, that shouldn’t really work, but it’s almost as if you’re already too carried away down the river of relaxation to really care.
Defining track – ‘What Are You Thinking About’: rich and textural with a hint of refinement, this is a song like a good red wine.
For fans of: Coffee shops on overcast days in October.
Ideal listening experience: When you need to shut off from the world on a Sunday and just not talk to anyone.
A concluding comment from Irving Berlin: “The song is ended but the melody lingers on”.
Release date: September 19th, 2025 | Producer: Rostam | Label: Republic Records
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