Reviewer: Josh Pauley

Released: 6th April 2015

Label: À Deux

For twin sisters Elektra and Miranda Kibley-Jansson, the events of the past year might have felt like fragments of a jubilant dream sequence. Heavily tipped at the start of 2014, they’ve been thrust to the forefront of Sweden’s already bustling pop pantheon off the strength of a few singles – and with the arrival of their first full-length, they seem to be making reservations for a spot on the entire globe’s pop royalty roundtable.

Thematically centred around the concept of dreams – if the collection’s title wasn’t transparent enough – ‘Lucid Dreaming’ weaves together sparkling synths and reverb heavy pianos with the pair’s pristine vocals to orchestrate an evocative dream pop soundscape. There are occasional ripples in the album’s ethereal fabric – their collaboration with fellow Scandinavian Lindstrøm ‘Games For Girls’ playfully mirrors Robyn’s ultra-stylistic synthpop – but largely the album’s eleven tracks emanate a hazy organic warmth that could sucker its way into even the iciest and most indifferent of hearts.

Perhaps the most endearing attribute tucked amidst the of ‘Lucid Dreaming’, however, is the sisters’ ability to convey detailed emotions in such a grandiose musical environment. ‘Peppermint’, for example, creates intimacy with hushed whispers and talk of burning peppermint kisses whilst steadily swelling to atmospheric proportions akin to that of a romantic Hollywood score – and yet the sincerity of their words doesn’t get whooshed away in all its dramatic flair.

Though it may come across as an innocuous affair to some, ‘Lucid Dreaming’ simultaneously triumphs as both a cohesive, introspective body of work and a bona fide pop record. Say Lou Lou might seem continually preoccupied by a world of dreams, but their sense of artistic excellence and conviction couldn’t be any more of a reality.

Tags: Album Reviews, Reviews, À Deux, Say Lou Lou