Album Review - Lights in the Loft by Chill Place
Author Libba Bray once said, "To live is to love, and to love is to live." Finding love, no matter the context or subject, is never easy, but the reward for love, lust, and the gray area in between always rewards us in the best ways. It's the kind of thing that can never be fully explained, only experienced first-hand and learned through experience.
Chill Place, however, has mastered the art of putting these experiences into audio format, and their ability to create relaxing, sensual, and, often, comforting music environments comes naturally. On their debut album, Lights in the Loft, Chill Place, over the course of eight songs, weaves a sonically old-school obsessed map. Yet, the album finds a way to remain present-day in all the best ways.
What defines a poor album? What defines a good album? What defines a great album? This album, while having similar elements to past great R&B albums, crafts its lane with its thematic approach of making a project that's cohesive, fluid, and never in its way by overcomplicating messages, using too many metaphors, or being over-reliant on one artists' talents over another.
Speaking of talent, lead singer Kyle Love has that in spades. Throughout this album, whether it’s his ability to sing, rap, or simply speak in pleasantries, he exudes an effortlessness throughout each song’s content. Whether it’s the intro song “Chest Hairs,” where even his short intermissions flow with coolness, or songs like “Melodic Exhale,” Where his opening monologue oozes swagger, Love takes his time to set the project’s atmosphere, and with each song you will grow accustomed and in love with Love’s talent.
Instrumentally, the multitude of sounds eases the canvas for Love to paint. However, it’s his vision that acts as the album’s driving force, authoritatively crafting a musical home that’s welcoming, deeply respectful, flirtatiously fun, and soft-spoken when necessary.
Backing Love is his band, who, for lack of better words, is the perfect accompaniment for their lead singer. Love's songs reflect his musical world, but the band flawlessly tells his story before he utters a single word. This is apparent from the opening track, where song instrumentation sprawls across the record, creating a low light of sound that reflects the easy-listening nature of the track. Crafting a combination of hypnotic guitars, soothing piano notes, and subtle drums, the band becomes the perfect combination to reflect their name: Chill Place.
While the album runs less than 30 minutes, you will enjoy the music and message of Lights in the Loft; Chill Place found its groove, and if you’re looking for an album to let loose and relax in a comforting loft, check out their music here.
