Adam Lanceley – Over The Horizon (2026)
The story behind singer-songwriter Adam Lanceley’s musical journey is a significant one – in fact, he was even interviewed on Sky News about it; I want to tell it to you. It’s not to see the sorrowful side of the experience, but rather to lay out the inspiration, empowerment, and power of music to help people when you, well, aren’t doing all that well. In Lanceley’s words:
“I was only ten years old when a car accident left me seriously injured. Sustaining a severe brain injury, a crushed pelvis and shattered legs, doctors advised me that I was unlikely to walk or talk again. Against all odds, I not only proved them wrong but am… now carving out a career as a singer-songwriter.”
Skip ahead some years, including another life-threatening trauma where he found support in songs from The Beach Boys, Lanceley has released eight albums and turned heads internationally. Today, we’re looking at his 2023 album, Over The Horizon.
Entirely self-recorded and produced, Over The Horizon is ten songs crafted as pure labours of love. From the opening folk-inspired ‘Your Light’ to the ending blues-infused ‘Thank You & Good Night’, Lanceley showcases not only a raw passion for music but also the innovation of evolution. It’s kind of like each track offering another side to his musical persona.
‘Your Light’ has the raw, barebones vibe we get from simplistic folk songs using a guitar and vocals arrangement; however, there is a little more to it. A steady drum sits in the back with an acoustic guitar sliding along, but a banjo gives it that twang that really ups the folk ante. One aspect I find particularly interesting in ‘Your Light’ is the reminiscence of Bob Dylan – intimate and soulful with an off-kilter spoken-word design. We hear, or rather feel, this stripped-back tone in ‘Since You’ and ‘Behind Your Beauty’.
While Over The Horizon unpacks vulnerability across the ten tracks, there are some that are stark and others that are weightier and full-bodied; this is where the evolution takes place. On tracks like ‘Since You’, Lanceley is simpler, softer, and in ‘Sweet Dreams Of You’, ‘With A Feeling’ and ‘Getting To You’, there is a rub of soul in the folk-driven melodies. For me, however, it is the ending tracks that give Over The Horizon a real kick with their diversity. In ‘Yesterday’s Sorrow’, a soft rock groove is felt as a piano lingers in the melody. While ‘Thank You & Good Night’ taps into old-school, New Orleans blues.
A noticeable constant throughout the album is the spoken-word vocals. As I mentioned, a reminiscence of Bob Dylan exists in the arrangement, but it’s not only the execution that touches a person; it’s the intimacy. Intense and powerful, yet still warm and comfortable, listening to Lanceley is like having a chat with an old friend.
Find out more about Adam Lanceley on his Facebook, X, YouTube, Soundcloud and Spotify.
