terrified to sacrifice
There’s no way to know, a new way of life

Anyone who has loved something unconditionally knows how hard it is to maintain that perfect, unwavering feeling, but oh how we try. July Talk’s “No Safe + Sound” is a beautiful admission of all of our darkest fears and doubts, about trying to protect what we love the most.

I’ve been trying to sleep at night
All the worry worry behind my eyes
When you die in my dreams at night
In this blood is pain, but it is mine

Kicking off with shimmering, interwoven piano and electric guitar, “No Safe + Sound” is rhythmic and bright, full of hope and new life. Leah Fay Goldstein’s sweet voice comes through like a beacon of light, reassuring, present, loving. Wrapping us in a balmy, nostalgic wave of dream pop, cradled by steady, present drums and percussion, like an amniotic heartbeat, “No Safe + Sound” feels like jumping into the void to face the unknown and embrace your fears.

'Cause I know that I can’t promise you
That I’ll never take it out on you
That I’ll always be enough for you
But I will try, hold you tight, apologize
I know this fear of death is fear of life

Even in her worried state, Leah never puts that on us, instead using her self- awareness and honesty to propel her forward to the chorus. Holding us in perfect harmony, along with Leah’s voice, we can also hear Peter Dreimanis, bassist Josh Warburton and percussionist Dani Nash singing on the chorus - a unique configuration we don’t often hear – one that lifts us up, their tones soothing like a lullaby, “Because there's no safe + sound anymore / I will keep you warm, home.”

Fortified by the repetition of her words, Leah’s cadence falls and rises, shining like the sun, the moon, the stars, while Peter Dreimanis’ vocals hum gently in the background, a certain father rocking us with his velvet baritone, fortifying the sound with a calming warmth.

And I know that I can’t promise you
That I’ll always be the best for you
That I’ll always make it up to you
But I will try

The most tender acknowledgement of being human is accepting our limits, and that even when we do our best to hold steady, things can still fall apart. In “No Safe + Sound”, we find the beauty in fear, the strength in love and life, and a declaration to try.

THE HORIZON LINE PLAYLIST:
Listen to this week's Horizon Line playlist inspired by July Talk's "No Safe + Sound".