2025 is kicking off to a great start as UK group Love Is Noise has put out their debut LP, To live in a different way. The group was formed by vocalist Cameron Humphrey and guitarist Tom Mellon in 2021. They have been releasing music since 2021 with their debut single being the song “Pillowcase”. “Pillowcase” was a strong alternative metal track that was a good introduction to what to expect from the band as they progressed. To live in a different way brings upon an expansion that while at first glance can seem jarring, all blends fantastically throughout.
The record opens with the ethereal “Devotion”. “Devotion” is a phenomenal introduction as it gives listeners glimpses of what’s to come throughout the record. One aspect is the deeply layered music which gives each track their own special and specific soundscape. The other is the personal themes of romance and longing. Humphrey’s vocals, like the rest of the record, provide a delivery that sells the themes behind the lyrics being sung. “Soft Glow” follows it up bringing heavier aspects of genres like post-hardcore and shoegaze throughout. Humphrey’s vocal weight adds heavy emphasis to this track that describes a person in your life who makes it better by just existing in it. The instrumentation in the chorus blends so well with the vocals as they both contain the right amount of emphasis between one another to where it still packs a punch.
Things take a step back with “take.one.minute.” before inching heavier again with “Jawbreaker”. “take.one.minute.” is a hypnotic song that achieves that effect through the mixing, instrumentation, and vocals. The break in this track features some of the best layering throughout the record with the drums getting to groove before the bass adds itself in. After that, a beautiful moment of acoustic guitar and vocals happens before the song breaks down. You would think the breakdown would discontinue the layering but it continues to stay up to the screams Humphrey lets out before one final chorus caps off the song. “Jawbreaker” by all means brings what its title entails. In your face drums and bass kick the song off before the rest of the instrumentals and vocals bring the heaviest song on the record. The heavy instrumentals lend themself to the theme of self-love on the track as obtaining self-love can be as hectic and heavy as the song. While it could seem like this sudden switch can be jarring, it isn’t. The record at this point is still flowing with cohesion even though the band has been integrating different genres to each track.
After the beautiful “Evelyn”, comes the heartbreaking “It hurts to know you’re there”. It hits on a different level thanks to the beautiful craftsmanship that went into the song. The moody instrumentals perfectly complement the lyrics in the chorus, “The way you said goodbye to me; It hurts to know, it hurts to know you’re there”. In a digital age where genuineness can be hard to come by, this blunt honesty is welcoming. Most people have felt heartbreak to the level the song portrays adding levels of relatability that entrances the listener deeper into not just the song but the rest of the album.
“Tear me apart, will I make it?; Doomed from the start” is the pre-chorus of the title track “To live in a different way”. The overall concept of this track compliments Humphrey’s emotion-filled delivery which features great emphasis that builds alongside the shoegaze-inspired instrumentals. Having this track come before “Sunshine” was a great decision as it adds onto what “To live in a different way” started. The lyrics of this song describe wanting to escape darkness and wanting to find sunshine in the end. Instrumentals on this song provide a different flavor compared to the track before but the choice to remain more somber brought the song together.
The next two tracks “Anemoia” and “Mist” are two gorgeous and lowkey soundscapes that could easily be featured on any study playlist or relaxing playlist. Both tracks also follow suit on the rest of the record and have phenomenal instrument layering. Next comes the grand finale, the six-minute-long “Ascending”. It is immediate to say that this track will properly end the record as it takes over a minute before the song fully kicks in with the intro consisting of sounds of the outdoors and quotes. Then vocals and drums enter before the song swells into the chorus. This finale is an epic one that encapsulates the entire record perfectly. You could listen to this track a multitude of times and find something new about it each listen. It is also thanks to the extended run time that more can be added to the song heightening it overall. Thematically it wraps up the record too, it brings up its existential themes from earlier in the record but during the bridge, it brings the lines “I am worthy of love, I am worthy of respect; I am no longer afraid of the end that’s right in front of me”. Hope is brought to the forefront letting the listener know that things will be okay.
Overall, To live in a different way is nothing short of an outstanding debut LP. Love Is Noise crafted a great record that features a wide range of influence in genres but doesn’t come across as jumbled. Thematically it is a heartfelt record that attacks emotions we feel on a day to day but leaves hope for the future ahead. Tons of thought was put into this record and it is obvious throughout. Heck, this record was put out on Valentine’s Day. A great debut record that leaves me beyond excited to see what comes next.
