Charlie Freeman’s follow up project to his 2018 debut is as rambunctious, heartfelt, and loaded with pomp as its predecessor. ‘Love’ is a luscious piece of rock and roll, completely loaded with vintage soundscapes from the 70s as well as a good infusion of the optimism and conquer the world attitude of britpop. As you’d expect, each piece of this record is an ode to the album’s title itself. It’s all about emotion, and Freeman is unafraid to wear it on his sleeve. The London based singer-songwriter is all about flourish, performing with a full band that makes his work that much more loaded and exciting. You can’t help but have a good time while delving into this record, there’s not a moment to be wasted on dullness or boredom.
Rocking in to the record with ‘Freedom’, a simple acoustic riff starts the album off with purpose and prowess. Freeman’s distinct rock and roll vocal performance, reminiscent of a britpop super star immediately had me feeling nostalgic and hopeful. The chorus is defiant, absolutely stadium rock in its scale. ‘We can be free’ starts to echo in the back of your head as you start to wholeheartedly fall into the vibe that Love wants to impart. That powerful arrangement that Freeman is so well equipped with lends itself perfectly for larger than life performances that carry scale. But the record also has more poppy light-hearted love songs that are catchy and perfect for a more casual listen like ‘Let There Be Love’.
Freeman is an expert songwriter. There’s not a single lull on the record, each song worth its weight as a single on this record. It’s fantastically fun, heartfully warm, and exquisitely arranged. Each hook is addictive, each riff is memorable, and each track demands a crowd.