Say Lou Lou is a pop duo composed of twin sisters Miranda Anna and Elektra June Kilbey-Jansson, who originally grew up in Australia and Sweden. After coming out with their first single, “Maybe You,” in 2012, they began to release a few more tracks, and ultimately produced their first full album, “Lucid Dreaming.” The sisters actually run their own record label, å Deux, which their new album will be released under.
The duo’s debut album is a cool fusion of 1980s synth-pop energy with a modern pop sound. But despite the unique combination of beats, the album is lyrically rudimentary.
The lack of lyrical variety was an immediate turnoff to the new music being produced by the twin duo. There was a sense of disappointment associated with the absence of innovation within the words in each track.
Lyrics such as “I know it will be alright” repeat incessantly on the album’s “Julian,” and similar cliches continue to plague other songs throughout the album. These hackneyed lines detract from the really interesting dream pop that exposes itself in many of the tracks.
Most of the music off “Lucid Dreaming” puts a distinct spin on the current sounds modern pop artists are producing. Similar to a cross between other female pop singers of the last few years, the voices of the duo are reminiscent of a mix of Lana Del Rey’s dragged out vocals with Lorde’s freaky weird offbeat style.
But unlike Del Rey’s dedication to her lyrics and Lorde’s beautiful emotional phrasings, Say Lou Lou’s lyrics don’t retain a lot of substance. They are generally generic truths that are relatable, yet unpersonalized in their nature.
Many of the songs within “Lucid Dreaming,” such as “Julian,” “Beloved,” and “Wilder Than Wind,” are almost identical to their first single, which had a very distinct melancholy downtempo feel to it. Similar to a love ballad a teenager might listen to under the covers after a terrible first breakup, Say Lou Lou’s music follows classic love tropes.
But these themes lack complexity when compared to similar tracks which have been recognized and acclaimed for years. These classically commonplace songs feel repetitive in an album being released in 2015.
Each song is about as lyrically deep as an Ellie Goulding song: defined by the simplistic essence of nothing but cliches. But where there is a lack of creativity in their words, they make up for it with an ingenuity in the sonic style connecting one song to the next.
Despite the few downbeat tracks, notably “Julian” and “Beloved,” the album still provides a rush of positive energy with groovy jams to get down to. “Everything We Touch” builds up from a slower beat toward a riveting crescendo of uplifting chord progressions.
Another particularly danceable song comes later in the album. Starting with ethereal, breathy sounds, the pop duo eases into “Nothing But A Heartbeat” with a pulsating backbeat and a resonating snare that lends energy to the track. The musical vibe seems to match the title of the song, as it feels impossible to sit still while listening to a melodious heartbeat encapsulate the minds of listeners.
The verdict: Although pre-existing fans might be disappointed by the simplicity of this album, it’s sonically pleasing enough to captivate new listeners with its unique pop crossover sound.
Reach writer Rebecca Gross at arts@dailyuw.com. Twitter: @becsgross
