Lewis Capaldi, “Broken By Desire To Be Heavenly Sent.”

Scottish singer-songwriter Lewis Capaldi remains dedicated to his soulful vocals, melancholic sound and focus on relationships on his latest album, Broken By Desire To Be Heavenly Sent. That poetic title may be referring to profound love, seeking a divinely inspired sound.

“Forget Me” sets the stage for the album’s exploration of heartbreak and inner turmoil with a relatively upbeat tune. The song slowly builds up to Capaldi’s signature raspy vocals belting out, “’Cause I’m not ready/ To find out you know how to forget me.” Impulsively sharing “Oh, I hate to know I made you cry/ But love to know I cross your mind, babe,” he shows the desire to still be with someone, even if in memory.

Without strain, Capaldi continues exploring post-relationship grief on “Wish You The Best.”

“I wanna say I wish that you never left/ Oh, but instead I only wish you the best,” he sings over a sorrowful, stripped-down piano accompaniment

Just as one relationship ends, another can blossom. “Pointless” feels sentimental and introspective. Beginning with a simple piano part, the instrumentation becomes more complex as the song reaches its lyrical climax. Here, there’s a balance between the vocals and music that strays away from Capaldi’s traditional vocally dominant music.

“Love the Hell Out of You” acts as a response to that fear. The music swells with Capaldi’s message: “I’ll bring you heaven/ If that’s what you need/ ‘Cause you’ve always loved the hell out of me.” Here, a choir gently harmonizes with Lewis Capaldi, conveying abundant support.

But relationships on this album are not all smooth-sailing and the focus zigzags between the love and the aftermath. On “Burning,” Capaldi acknowledges how personal struggle can break bonds. “Leave Me Slowly” shows how external circumstances can negatively affect them. Bringing nostalgia and melancholy, the song slowly builds up to a rock-inspired ending as Capaldi pleads for a lover to stay a little longer before saying goodbye.

“Any Kind of Life” is about the pain at the end. Strings emphasize the sadness and weight of his words: “When my lungs don’t breathe/ And my heart don’t beat/ And I can’t believe in any kind of life without you here.”

“I’m fucking useless/ And full of excuses,” he sings of his own inner turmoil on “How This Ends.” Finding and accepting yourself is a theme woven throughout the end of the album. “The Pretender” is about the challenge of being yourself. The fast-paced, cabaret-style piano lines underscore the performance that we put on for others. “I can wear a million faces/ ‘Cause I don’t like the one underneath,” he theatrically sings, conveying the self-deprecation that restricts self-authenticity.

Interestingly enough, at his show in Berkeley a couple of weeks earlier, Lewis Capaldi was full of self-deprecating stories. So he’s nothing if not honest.

Amidst the pervasive sadness in the album’s final ballad, “How I’m Feeling Now,” he lays bare his vulnerability.

“I won’t lie, I’m a mess, yeah/ But I’ll get there,” he acknowledges his dissatisfaction with a seemingly great life but sees some sun peaking in through the clouds over a gentle acoustic melody.

The song shares its title with Capaldi’s Netflix documentary, where he shares his mental health journey while navigating fame. As listeners empathize with Capaldi’s struggles, the song can be an anthem for finding self-acceptance and love.