(For a TRACK-BY-TRACK review, scroll down) Say Lou who? Miranda and Elektra Kilbey-Jansson are twin sisters (appropriate for this site, no?) and together they form dream-pop duo Say Lou Lou. The daughters of Steve Kilbey (member of band The Church) and Karin Jansson, the two have been around in the music scene since 2012, but it is not until now that they have released their debut album Lucid Dreaming. Hotly anticipated, will their début album live up to expectations? We will be giving you a run-down of each track off the Deluxe version of the album, available worldwide now.
Opening the album and the door into Say Lou Lou's mesmerizing world is ‘Everything We Touch’, a stand-out track in its own right. This one feels timeless and is probably quintessential Say Lou Lou; mid-tempo, full of hazy life. Easy to listen and get into. #2 is the disco-heavy ‘Glitter’, which has a distinct 80s feel (not surprising giving their upbringing) and is further proof that the 80s revival in happening and it's actually sounding pretty good. ‘Games for Girls’ is up next and is an upbeat, poppy addition with Lindstrøm. This can feel a little repetitive after a few listens but in a way that’s not a bad thing as the different acoustic makes for a bit of variety and opens up a whole new world. The chorus is truly addictive as well. A sweet and harmonious song, ‘Julian’ doesn't disappoint anyone with its very airy feel. Breathy vocals combined with enigmatic narrative make for happy ears all around.
It seems to be going quite well until we hit ‘Angels (Above Me)’. Now that's not to say this isn't a perfectly pleasant song, but it’s a little too polished and bland. With the sister’s talent being so beautifully used on other tracks, we know this one could have been a lot better. #6 is ‘Peppermint’ which has an eccentric quality to it, differing itself from the other tracks. You might have to listen to it a few times to either love it or hate it. This is our ‘marmite’ track for this album. ‘Beloved’ follows and possesses one of the more captivating synth sounds and enticing beats. Its light and angelic vocals are truly memorable. ‘Hard for a Man’ is quite the opposite however. It's not particularly notable and follows the same generic pattern as some of the other songs, which is a bit disappointing. Say Lou Lou’s music is always easy to listen to, but sometimes come the end of the track you can forget what you have even listened to, and unfortunately this is the outcome of this track.
However this quickly changes when ‘Wilder Than the Wind’ plays in. Sweeping whimsical vocals combined with classic synths, this tracks lives up to its title; it can’t be tamed. Up next is our other stand-out track, ‘Nothing but a Heartbeat’, which is the duo's latest single. Whether it's the dreamy vocals, the addictive beat or the surreal nature of the song, this one is pure musical magic. We then switch to ‘Skylights’ - an anthem-esque sound, suitable for a strong ending track with appropriate lyrics: ‘We’ve gotta keep on moving to stay strong’. The bonus tracks come in the form of ‘Love Is the Loneliest Place’ and 'Electrify', the former of which is not half bad. It's got a very earthy nature to it. Romance + isolation can often be the best combination for a song and this pays off for the duo. This one's worth a listen. The latter however isn't particularly wow-factor material, but it's nice enough.
OVERALL VERDICT:
Say Lou Lou’s début album has been long overdue, and although the combined effort of Miranda and Elektra contains some blissfully hazy tracks there are a few that seem altogether too polished and pristine, so much so that they lack any sort of fibre or meaningfulness. That is not to say, however, that Lucid Dreaming isn’t dreamy for the most part, in fact there are notable additions to the dream-pop genre in the form of ‘Nothing but a Heartbeat’, ‘Everything We Touch’, ‘Julian’ and ‘Wilder Than the Wind’, all of which are equally enticing as they are breath-taking. For an album so reliant on the ethereal nature of the sister’s vocals and music, it can over-do it in some areas; a bit of variety wouldn’t go a miss. Nevertheless, this is the ultimate escapist record. (Serving suggestion: Wait until nightfall - or turn off the lights - grab your low-light candles and blissfully sway in the aura that is Say Lou Lou.)
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