Radiant Sorrow
Self-Released, 2025
9/10
A collection of 10 songs written between 2020 and 2025, Mike Cyril explores isolation, upheaval, and artistic transformation across this well thought out effort.
The intimate and poetic “Turn Out The Lights” opens with Cyril’s emotive singing alongside Sara Goldstone’s soft keys, and “I Guess You’re My Baby” follows with well timed backing vocals and Piero Perelli’s crisp drums that suit the expressive vocals.
Landing in the middle, the gentle “Moon’s Afterglow” quickly bursts into a loud bout of orchestral pop, while “Plans For Me” is a bit haunting via the moody strings and cinematic backdrop.
Near the end, “Things You Can’t Ignore” recruits eloquent storytelling amid the stirring violin and strategic bass, and “Love Charges On” exits with warm melodies surrounding the heartfelt singing and bare musicianship.
Cyril and his wife traded urban life for a mountaintop view, and these songs stemmed from the thoughts of mortality, resistance to healing, love, and fever dreams that followed. Highly sophisticated and easily relatable, his vision unfolds with much care that touches on the human experience.
Travels well with: Janie May- The Rules; Joseph Shipp- Dig Deep