21. April 2025
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Media Review

Lyon Hansen – Skull-Sized Kingdom

Florian Buechtingby Florian Buechting

Lyon Hansen - Skull-Sized Kingdom

Lyon Hansen - Skull-Sized Kingdom
4.7

Rating

 4.7/5

Flyctory.com Pros

  • Nice range of tracks (in English and Faroese)
  • Lovely calm and personal style
  • Lovely storytelling

Over the last years, the Faroe Islands have become a place to relax for me. Furthermore, I more and more get into Faroese music. Unfortunately, I did not have the opportunity sharing Faroese releases with you too often so far. This review is definitely worth sharing with the Flyctory.com audience, though. Lyon Hansen released his second album Skull-Sized Kingdom on 27th March 2025. Let’s have a listen to this Americana album.

 

Lyon Hansen – About The Artist

Lyon Hansen is a Faroese singer-songwriter, who is majorly doing a blend of folk and blues music. He grew up in the some 50 people village of Gotugjogv, which is located on Eysturoy South of Leirvik. His label describes the location as Lyon Hansen’s next-door neighbours were a church, a congregation hall, a bank, and the ocean. Hansen released his debut album Lyon in 2015, but just had some scattered single releases thereafter.

 

Lyon Hansen – Skull-Sized Kingdom – Track by Track

The eleven song album lasts 42 minutes. The first seven songs are in English, while the remaining four are sung in Faroese.

1. Skull-Sized Kingdom

The four minute opener and title track caught me that much that I had to go for this deeper review. The song has a definite blues character, the gently flowing style even has a bit of a jazzy touch. The key element of this track, like on most of the songs of the album, is the lovely storytelling, though. Skull-Sized Kingdom is sounds really cool and is easy to follow. Love it!

2. Life in the city

The blues groove with some laid back and virtuous vibes continues in Life in the city. Hansen states I’ve been dreaming about a life in the city. In fact, however, we reflects about the girls, they dance, they are so pretty. The song is an imaginative romance. The jazzy character increases at the end, where this musical dream also comes with some distortion.

3. Gone Yonder

The fast three minute Gone Yonder is the first track on Skull-Sized Kingdom, which clearly comes with folk and even country elements. Despite the quicker vibes, the vocals feel majorly calm and thus connect in style to the previous songs of the album. The slightly zesty touch turns it into a really nice listen.

4. The Archaeologist

With 2:21 minutes duration, The Archaeologist is the shortest song of the album. It is a modern blues track with some rock attitudes. Hansen’s voice feels rather energetic and thus nicely leads you through the brief listen. The song also comes with a nice and easy melody.

5. Someday

Another rather crisp and rhythmic, rather fast song is Someday. In this song, Lyon Hansen also uses country music elements. I like the leverage of lyrical and melodic elements in this one.

6. Stones in Your Pockets

If you love classic blue-rock with some piano elements, Stones in Your Pockets is your song to go for. The song comes with a lovely blending and arrangement. Towards the end of the almost five minute listen, the track is loaded with energy. A great listen with a fascinating plot.

7. Pass It On (Down the River)

Getting close to six minutes, Pass It On (Down the River) is the longest song on Skull-Sized Kingdom. The song is  slow and calm tracks, which has some fine keyboard melodies in the background. The storytelling is lovely, again.

8. Ætt eftur ætt

The title of the eighth song translates to “Generation after Generation” (if google translate is right). My very basic knowledge of the language of the Nordic archipelago is too limited to follow Lyon Hansen’s stories from this song on. That’s a shame, the song has a catching, dramatic plot. Hansen feels very intense and present in this song.

9. Kom heim við mær

The ninth song title translates to “Come home with me” (that’s about the level I don’t need a translator for…). Just as you would expect from the title, the song is a rather calm, very personal listen. I really love listening to this song – and feel I should improve my language skills.

10. Leið 400

The tenth song is the only one which has been released before the album. Hansen released it, together with Torshavn-based singer Gudrid Hansdottir, in October 2023. A beautiful and gentle duet.

11. Summar nætur
The album closes with a track about “Summer Nights”. A lovely blues-folk song, which again is quite touching and emotional – even if you don’t know the language. The harmonica leads to some campfire vibes. A harmonic way to finish Skull-Sized Kingdom.

 

Lyon Hansen – Skull-Sized Kingdom – Spotify

Here is the album on Spotify:

 

Lyon Hansen – Skull-Sized Kingdom – My View

The Faroe Islands have some 55,000 people, 80,000 sheep. They might kick your a** in handball and give you struggle in soccer. And they have an extremely rich music and cultural scene. Skull-Sized Kingdom by Lyon Hansen is a lovely example for that. The album comes with lovely tracks and is an amazing listen. Calm, honest, with straight messages – like the people there. I love it.

Favorite Song: Summar nætur

 

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