Kyle Falconer, frontman of The View and acclaimed solo artist, has always drawn inspiration from the women who have shaped his life, real and fictional. From chart-topping hits with his band to introspective solo work, Falconer’s songwriting explores love’s joys and pains, lust, heartache and regret with his compelling storytelling having earned a reputation for capturing the highs and lows of relationships through his music.
Now, Falconer is set to release a special acoustic album, The One I Love The Most, which brings together some of his most beloved tracks. The album, due out on February 7th—just in time for Valentine’s Day—features a collection of reworked songs from his extensive back catalogue, each named after a woman. The album showcases his distinctive storytelling style, stripping back the original arrangements to offer a more intimate, acoustic experience.
The album title is inspired by a lyric from The View’s fan favourite “5 Rebeccas” (below) and takes listeners on a journey through almost two decades of Falconer’s music. It features reworked versions of classic tracks like “Claudia” from Hats Off to the Buskers, the band’s chart-topping debut, and “Dixie” from last year’s Exorcism of Youth. The album also breathes new life into highlights from his solo records No Thank You and No Love Songs For Laura, including the deeply personal “Laura,” where Falconer reflects on past regrets and their lasting impact on his now-wife, Laura Wilde.
Other highlights include “Kelly,” a bold exploration of gender identity, and “Madonna,” a playful, celebrity-infused imagining of the ideal afterlife.
The album also features a guest appearance from Manchester rapper PROSE, whose sharp rhymes complement a stripped-back version of “Lucy.”
The first single from the album, “Angelina,” will be released on December 20th. This brand-new track – sure to be an instant highlight – showcases dramatic percussion and sweeping strings, creating a cinematic atmosphere that matches its intense narrative of a relationship torn apart by clashing perceptions of truth.
The One I Love The Most is now available for pre-order here, with six limited edition vinyl formats, including a special Obi Edition available exclusively through Assai Records.
Falconer, who recorded the album at his La Sierra Casa studio near Alicante, Spain, says the project grew out of an idea he had after setting up said studio: “I thought about all the girls’ names I had written about and thought it would be a great romantic idea to put them all in one place and release the record for Valentine’s Day. I wanted to show the songs as they were without all the production and we captured the first essence of them.“
The album represents not just a journey through Falconer’s songwriting evolution but also a reflection of his personal growth: “It’s great to see the different feelings along the album and my ups and downs, from the childlike writing of ‘Claudia’ to the more in depth idea of ‘Kelly’ as I have seen and heard more of the world, “ he adds
Alongside his own musical projects, Falconer continues to nurture other musicians at La Sierra Casa, his creative retreat in Spain, which hosts songwriting camps and offers a recording studio designed to achieve peak sound quality, workflow and productivity. The retreat has already supported emerging artists like Ben Walker and Cammy Barnes, with plans for upcoming camps featuring special guests such as Justin Hawkins of The Darkness, Carl Barât of The Libertines, Jamie Webster and Soft Play’s Laurie Vincent
Looking ahead, Falconer is also preparing to complete The View’s Greatest Hits tour in Scotland with two Glasgow shows at the O2 Academy this Thursday and Friday (tickets available here). The band is also confirmed to perform at several UK festivals next summer.
The ‘The One I Love The Most’ tracklist is as follows:
Featured photo by SaritaSarange
