“You are the one that shines.”
Known for their atmospheric blend of shoegaze, indie rock, and dream pop, Love is Noise have carved a space where sound and sentiment intertwine with notable intensity. With their debut album, To Live in a Different Way, they continue to expand on their sonic landscape established in their fantastic 2022 debut EP, Euphoria, Where Are You?,
Offering listeners a deeper dive into their ethereal yet emotionally charged world. From shimmering guitars to hauntingly beautiful lyrics, this album is a journey through soundscapes that feel both otherworldly and intimately human.
The opening track “Devotion” sets the tone of the album right from the start, entering with a driving shoegaze section, followed by vocalist Cameron Humphrey joining the track with a delicate vocal delivery. Lyrically, it speaks of a love that is all-encompassing, yet the song’s underlying tone builds a layer of tension in sections. This creates an uncertainty as to whether this devotion is merely unreciprocated or simply untrue.
The lead single of the album “Soft Glow” continues the exploration of genre-mashing Love is Noise are becoming known for. It maintains a poignant message whilst being much more energy-driven than the opener. With its blend of intensity and delicacy, “Soft Glow” features a mixture of clean and screamed vocals, delivering a message of appreciation for those who bring light and positivity into our world. The track builds cinematically, adding subtle variations to the chorus and ends with a fade out that still feels climactic.
“take.one.minute” is where Love is Noise begin to showcase their ability to craft something simple, catchy, and impactful. As sparse instrumental arrangements build, Humphrey directly addresses the audience, delivering a message of being present and living in the moment: “I want you to enjoy this life and find a better you”. The song crescendos into a massive wall of sound, then shifts into a blast beat-laden screaming before dropping back to the chorus. The energy is intensified in the opening of “Jawbreaker” with an electrifying riff heavy introduction. Showcasing their ability to merge their high energy sections with atmospheric undertones, “Jawbreaker” fantastically blends anthemic choruses with more wild, heavy elements, amplified by the bands creative use of dynamics. It’s a thrilling juxtaposition of power and atmosphere.
After this burst, the energy dissipates into “Evelyn”, dropping into a swung and gentle ballad. With a style almost displaying a britpop-like sensibility, this song ebbs and flows with a much softer energy, flowing until the climax of the song creates a beautiful contrast of the softer, delicate instrumentation, combined with a screamed, desperate vocal delivery releasing the building tension developed in the buildup.
The range of influences is definitely established at this point without over-using any element. “It hurts to know you’re there” continues the atmospherics whilst being more centred towards a britpop-meets-indie style track. With melancholy verses and a sombre, catchy chorus, this track is sure to be a favourite for fans to sing along to. “To live in a different way” was the strongest of the singles released for the album, and it takes us back into a swung, dreamy arrangement. With lyrics focused on confronting pain, the song continues to build in energy, growing to a fantastic climax, doubling down on its chorus as the song progresses. The energy of the instruments is balanced with melancholy vocal melodies, creating a stand out song on the album.
“Sunshine” was the final of the singles, focusing on a longing for someone to bring comfort in a time of feeling (“Please protect me, from this misery”). The contrast between its somber lyrics and an energetic, uplifting musical arrangement makes it another cornerstone of the album.
The following tracks “Anemoia” and “Mist”, are softer, and more introspective. Anemoia touches on feelings of anxiety and uncertainty, with Humphrey asking “Will I leave this prison?”. Flowing with heavily reverberated guitars, and lush string sections entwined with, this song develops instrumentally until fading into “Mist”. Beginning with a simple piano section, and then being driven by acoustic guitars, this song is a short but sweet lead into the final track, “Ascending”. The conclusion of the album, and longest song, combines almost every element displayed throughout to bring the album to an emphatic close. Displaying a wide range of dynamics, “Ascending” seamlessly transitions between softer, clean verses with a massive overdriven chorus section.
To live in a different way is an album that Love is Noise have created with intentional honesty, not for anyone but themselves. A very refreshing take on popular genres that will resonate with many listeners. It’s difficult for me to find anything particularly negative about this album, although on my first listen, I did feel at the latter point of the album needed a more energetic section – a “Jawbreaker” style moment between “Anemoia” and “Ascending” – but with time the flow of the record really got under my skin in a positive way. Fans of the more intense, heavier elements of the band’s earlier work may be left wanting a bit more, the flipside being that fans of alternative and shoegaze should consider this a stepping stone and important album in its own right. Where music often blurs the lines between genres and emotions, Love Is Noise stands as a bold reminder of how the most honest and raw expressions of feeling can still carve their own unique niche.
8/10
To live in a different way releases on the 14th February through Century Media Records and can be pre-ordered here.