Charli Haruhi basks in eclecticism. Their entire production style, while founded on house and dance, draws from a plethora of genres to make an experience that everyone can vibe to. The human experience, if looked upon from a broad enough lens, is all about diversity and defying explanation. Self described as a transpersonal journey that takes you through the natural elements, the drum and bass anthemic power of the project surges energy into you. Influenced by everything from anime, an education in psychology, religion, and outer space, it is an album that is unafraid to bask in its own grandiosity. The transformative and ambitious house record is Charli’s first full length production, marking their arrival with flamboyance and exaltation.
From the top, the energy is uncompromising. ‘Love Grows’ rides around with a bumpy ride of a beat, filled with unexpected jumps and falls. Charli’s expressiveness on the vocals steers the journey with pomp and rhythm to measuredly make each slight percussive hit that much better. From a production standpoint, it’s a blaster of an opening piece that has you absolutely engrossed. It’s that constant energy, the unrelenting beats that don’t for a moment veer too extreme or break to a halt that makes the album so engaging. You’re locked in throughout, a zen like focus on each beat.
1st Density breaks from the formulaic structure of house music. It’s influences which range from techno to drum & bass allow it to take a different form altogether, making you dance out of need, a consequence of beats that are so inherently infectious and pulsating. The lead single ‘Blew’ is particularly reverberating, with vocal harmonies and energy that simultaneously serenade and excite. The album sits in between relaxation and revel, a tightrope that isn’t easy to walk on. There’s no point hearing this record on a poor speaker, it needs to be experienced with headphones and a tranquil environment to let it take you where it may. A special one, without a doubt.