Review Summary: If you want to ask me something, I can tell you so much more......
Daniel Snaith, aka Caribou, is a man known for being progressive-thinking when it comes to his music. From the shoegaze of
Up In Flames to the psychedelic pop of
Andorra, Snaith has never tried to fool anyone into thinking he’ll go for the same sound twice. Many have tried to experiment and evolve with every release, but Caribou is one of the few who has managed to come out clean every single time. As time has gone on, he’s only gotten better at exploring new genres successfully, as evidenced by his acclaimed fifth album,
Swim. Four years later, Snaith has returned with a new full-length entitled
Our Love. With his newest release, Caribou deviates yet again from the direction of his previous albums, and opts for a more focused, solidified approach as opposed to the more dance-oriented sound of
Swim.
Psychedelia has always been one of the bigger aspects of Snaith’s music, and
Our Love is no exception. Even if it doesn’t quite have that disco influence, the music still gives off a special type of radiance that easily lures you in, and encapsulates you into a world of kaleidoscopic synthesizers and distorted vocals. The two singles, “Our Love” and “Can’t Do Without You” are particularly memorable, with a touch of house and trip hop seeping in to create that bouncy, colorful vibe Caribou has strived to keep intact within his varied array of ideas and experiments. That’s not to downplay the strength coming from the rest of the songs, though. “Silver” displays Snaith’s more relaxed side, with soft vocals supporting an enchanting drum beat and bassline, while “All I Ever Need” reverts to a slightly more groove-based approach, with calm singing once again playing into the music from the background. Other standout tracks include “Mars”, “Back Home”, “Second Chance”, and the fantastic closer “Your Love Will Set You Free”.
The departure from his earlier material becomes apparent early on, and it all ultimately comes down to whether or not Caribou’s continuous cycle of exploration is something that his audience can adjust to. But even if
Our Love isn’t exactly what one might expect from Caribou just after he’s settled into a comfortable niche, it still has
something about it that will keep you coming back for more. Be it the subtle charm of the beats, the atmosphere of the background instruments, or just the generally relaxing tone of the music, Daniel Snaith always find a loophole through the misgivings and concerns of longtime fans, and
Our Loveis no exception. Even if it isn’t the best introductory album to Caribou’s style, it could click with those who prefer a more straightforward, streamlined sound, and it’ll resonate with psychedelic fans just as easily. There’s not a boring moment to be found on
Our Love, and in the end, it redefines Snaith’s style as a musician and proves once more that expanding beyond your horizons can pay off in the long run.
