Reviewer: Liam McNeilly

Released: 18th March 2016

Label: Sacred Bones

On previous LP ‘International’, Lust For Youth re-emerged with a new lease of life. Whilst maintaining a sense of the cloudy darkness that underpinned Hannes Norrvide’s earlier solo work through the guise, the expanded three-piece presented an album of questions and of potential. Free of previous claustrophobia, they teased at a dark take on pop that, perhaps intentionally, was yet to feel fully realised – a reluctant middle ground of teetering style and ideas.

On ‘Compassion’, we’re pushed a step further. LFY’s fourth LP sees them experiment with space like never before, returning with a sound that, for the most part, is open, inviting and dusted generously with that melodic pop sensibility that started to unveil itself last time out. That openness is not a one-track ideal, though. ‘Compassion’ plays out like a balancing act that has you questioning its nature within its darker corners. It dangles euphoria in front of you before the subsequent lows or Norrvide’s lamenting howls reveal themselves to drag that hope from beneath your feet.

It’s this playing off of light and dark that runs throughout the fabric of ‘Compassion’, but it presents itself in a more explicit from early on through the one-two of ‘Limerence’ and ‘Easy Window’. The former sees LFY working their most crystalline of dance-pop intentions, with synth-lines as graceful as the object of Norrvide’s lyrics. The swirling instrumental track that follows puts paid to any dreams of full-blown elation, but whereas such interludes seemed clumsily arranged on ‘International’, the process feels more deliberate with the ideas better formed this time around. Whilst not lending itself to the most flowing of sounds, the rise and fall seems to stylise the sense of false hope and inevitability that LFY thrive upon.

The most dizzying of the album’s highs comes in the form of ‘Better Looking Brother’. The lead single that spearheaded ‘Compassion’ is by the far its most accomplished triumph, with Norrvide sounding at his most hopeful as he reigns in the despair of the opening verse to sing “You have a part to play tonight, in whatever is to come.” It’s the album’s euphoric, seven-and-a-half minute plateau, and in standalone form saw LFY return last year by showcasing the peak of their dingy dancefloor-ready powers. It signalled a band ready to fully embrace this aspect of their repertoire, but it’s a ground that they remain less than comfortable occupying fully over the space of a full-length. Rather than any idealist notion of dancefloor transcendence, LFY remain too in tune with the surrounding despair to allow their listener a blinkered perception.

Across its eight tracks, ‘Compassion’ sees LFY take familiar themes and shape them in to something that’s as accessible as anything that’s gone before, filtering gloom in to something that’s often uplifting and charming. While the abrasive sounds of Norrvide’s earlier work seemed custom-built to turn you away, on ‘Compassion’ we’ve gone full circle in the form of a record that seems intent on growing with each listen. With room for refinement this isn’t LFY’s crowning glory by any stretch, but it’s a purposeful record that shows a trio holding on to the makings of something quite special.

Tags: Album Reviews, Reviews, Lust For Youth, Sacred Bones

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