Bringing together a unique blend of soul, alternative pop, and even hip-hop, The Loveseats are here with their second part of their two part series — “Waves & Wobbles”. The music group compose personal and harmonic folky lyrics, sung over contrasting wavy, up-tempo, bass loaded rhythms. The two eight track projects highlight serve as perfect complements to one another.
“The Descent”, the opener for the album is an ambient piece that sets the mood. The track utilises what I’d call their signature style, a penchant for creating real world environments and sounds through their production. The atmospheric pitter patter is an almost forest like sounding piece.
Immediately followed by “Go Low”, a similar pitter patter prevails but here the singing starts in full flow. Go Low might be one of my favourites from the group so far. Blending synths, spaced out vocals, and a cacophony of other tiny sounds that come together to weave the intricate production, it’s a nigh anthemic piece. The vocals on this are subtle, a bit understated, but so expertly in line with each ebb and flow of the track.
“Burning Rubber” takes the speed down a tempo or two slowly, bringing the album to a more laidback point right in the middle. That distinctive ‘Loveseats pitter patter’ is reworked once again to play a far more subtle background role behind the more cinematic synths and bass here. The buildup on this track is simply sublime as it reaches a momentary high right before sleekly fading out at the end.
“Forgotten Fields” has production unlike any of the others, incorporating an almost tribal percussion alongside the electronic synths. Like the rest of the album, vocals play an almost backing role here to this more ambient piece.
I’ll also make special note of the finale on the album, “Be Peaceful”. The riff here is so intriguing because it feels broken, but in repetition that staccato-esque feeling becomes increasingly addictive. It’s melancholic and sedative, with the vocals uniquely taking a more centrepiece role. “Drag myself away from this lifestyle, I could have stayed, oh I could have stayed, lived out a few more days, until that fateful crash. But I can’t look back.“. I love closers that don’t belt at the top of your lungs, the pieces that are more stripped back and peaceful often find the best note to end on. Oh, and there’s also a hilarious sample of the Oh I can hear you clem fandango on the final outro that’s bound to elicit a smirk to anyone who’s had much experience with British comedy.
Once again, I’d strongly recommend Wobbles to anyone who enjoys picking part the various tiny nuances in production. Each note, instrument, and composition that these guys manage to craft amazes me. The project is even more atmospheric than waves, with highs that go above and beyond the partner album. Personal highlights for me come in the closing track “Be Peaceful” and the anthemic “Go Low”.