Christain Leave just released a new EP containing just two tracks. It starts with the song “Milksop” and ends with “Darling” (hence the title). This article will just focus on that first song. “Milksop” starts with two melancholic guitar chords in a minor key, then Christian’s soothing vocals trickle in.
“I shy away from my own world
And look for who I'm meant to be
I've tried my ways but not hard enough
Maybe I don't wanna know what I'm meant to be, oh”
Here he shares the paradoxical reality of the lifelong journey self discovery we all embark upon. On one hand, he wants to figure out who he really is, while on the other hand, he tries to repress who he really is because he's scared of what he may find. During this stanza, a deep bass bleeds into the background of the track. After that, a shuffle-like percussion appears, adding even more texture to the song.
Lastly, the chorus enters the track:
“And it's my fault
For never speaking out
And it's my fault
For never searching out”
He repeats these same statements until the end of the song. In this section you see Christian second guessing and critiquing himself for things that, in reality, were probably out of his control. A sentiment I’m sure most people, if not everyone, can relate to. Along with the percussion from earlier, some synths join the rest of the instruments in the arrangements. And the song ends with soft, melancholic hums and rhythmic breathing as well as the guitar. This song, in my opinion, is some of Leave’s best work and one of the most emotionally impactful songs to come out this year (aside from FKA Twigs’ Cellophane).
