Spiritual Songs for Lovers to Sing
, the debut album from English-Dutch duo
LUH
(an acronym for "lost under heaven"), is the sonic consummation of both art and love between ex-
WU LYF
vocalist
Ellery James Roberts
and artist
Ebony Hoorn
. Their union informs the entirety of the 12-song cycle, melding extremes against a soundtrack of textured atmospherics, clashing vocal deliveries, and an ominous intensity. Even in (relatively) calmer moments, like "Here Our Moment Ends" and "Lament,"
deliver with such earnestness that it's hard to relax. That passion translates into an immersive listening experience as
Roberts
and
Hoorn
lure listeners into an orbit that does not relent.
Spiritual Songs
was produced by
Bobby Krlic
, aka
the Haxan Cloak
, and his touch infuses each song, imparting dread, providing uplift, or simply hypnotizing with looped beats. These flourishes rarely overpower, allowing the focus to remain squarely on
's vocals.
' distinctive gravelly shout veers from bloody and raw ("Unites") to heaving and shredded ("Someday Come"), which amps up the potency. Meanwhile,
delivers with cool detachment, reining in
' unhinged yelps. When the spotlight shines on
, like on the pretty "Future Blues," the results are soothing and entrancing. Album highlights include the dark, new wave-inspired "Beneath the Concrete," which rides a
Depeche Mode
-worthy digital heartbeat, and "Lost Under Heaven," which bashes hard-hitting drums and slashing guitars through thick shoegaze fuzz. "$ORO" is the creative centerpiece of the album, incorporating Auto-Tuned vocals, booming cacophony, and a thrilling industrial break that explodes at the finish. The singular moment of peace ends the album. "The Great Longing" is a bittersweet acoustic duet that closes with a promise: "I've got faith in us, so hold my faith as trust and let's start today." It loops directly back into the first track "I&I," thus completing the circle and starting the cycle of love once again.
is not a casual listen and can be emotionally overwhelming at times, requiring complete attention in order to fully enter the intimate world of these star-crossed lovers. Once inside,
is as intoxicating as falling in love for the first or last time. ~ Neil Z. Yeung