“The space that we allow to be between us is so carefully designed.”
Armed with their own distinct blend of influences ranging from post-punk, math rock, shoegaze, to pop, Love Rarely are looking to leave a lasting impression with the upcoming release of their debut project Lonely People. The EP arrives following a steady release of singles, from the group’s moving debut single “My Body” at the tail end of 2022 to “P.A.F”, a track which earned a spot on one of our recent New Music Friday columns.
Opening number “And You Know It” makes use of mathy single coil guitar licks and spacious production to make way for vocalist Courtney Levitt’s melodic, shouty vocals. Love Rarely’s ability to craft a track that is equal parts punchy and contemplative is on display early here, with the moody atmosphere and earworm chorus gripping your attention as the track builds towards its explosive finish. The following interlude “Don’t Try” further soothes the soul with its evocative and ambient soundscape, acting as a bridge between the EP’s relatively somber opening and its subsequent more energetic cuts.
Things turn up a notch as Levitt screams her way through a backdrop of springy, frenetic guitars on “Entropy”. The dense shoegazey style production masterfully builds musical and emotional tension through its latter half, and the moment the dam finally breaks is perfectly executed, sticking the landing with one of the most powerfully cathartic moments across Lonely People’s runtime. “Say Yes” leans back into the more melodic side of things while maintaining the mathy instrumentation, this time with some light fuzz. The track is topped off with another catchy chorus that begs the listener to shout and sing along with “say no more because I’m sinking to the bottom, I wanted you to say yes, I wanted you to say yes” sticking in the mind.
With a runtime north of four minutes long, penultimate track “Slow Motion” is the lengthiest cut on the EP. Levitt sings over the top of mercurial guitars that are at times clean and sparkling, and other times bouncy and distorted. This conteinually adds to the overall melancholic sheen of the track, yet it’s not without some bite though, as Levitt bursts through dissonant chords with her punchy delivery—”feel the wrath of every choice that you made, take your pick”—ushering in a gorgeous final stretch. Love Rarely are not closing out on a soft note, however, as the aforementioned outro track “P.A.F” is a complete turnaround from the melodic showings of the EP. It’s all punky swagger and attitude paired with chunky bass. While the brevity of the track does leave you wanting, there is still a sense of fulfillment as Lonely People reaches its short, albeit explosive, endnote.
Lonely People proves to be a powerful first showing for Love Rarely, with the Leeds-based quintet tackling themes like love, loss, and intimacy with a fierce and moving vulnerability that feels both earnest and genuine. Technical prowess in the group’s instrumentation, coupled with Courtney Levitt’s enthralling vocal performances across Lonely People’s runtime are sure to establish Love Rarely as ones to keep an eye on for the foreseeable future.
8/10
Lonely People is due out this Friday March 8th via self-release. You can find links to pre-order and pre-save the EP here and here.