LAU - Circumstance (Take Two)
Review by Karl Magi
Overall Album Impressions
LAU’s Circumstance (Take Two) carries listeners on a journey through the emotional complexity of a love challenged by distance and uncertainty. LAU and her musical guests create music that is impassioned, expressive and ear-catching. Lyrics, vocals and synth layers interweave to create music with depth and intense feeling.
Lyrics and vocals combine to superb effect on Circumstance (Take Two). LAU’s songs explore the full range of emotions confronted by people sharing a long-distance relationship in their lyrics. All of the vocal performances by LAU or her guests cut right to the heart of the matter with powerful expression.
I am enthused by the way in which LAU has brought together such a deep talent pool on Circumstance (Take Two). All of her musical guests bring a unique sensibility that lends breadth and power to the songs. I enjoy hearing their interpretations of LAU's songs and how each artist adds a fresh flavour to the music.
Each synth choice adds to the album's sonic richness. The tonal ranges, timbral qualities and musical textures are woven into a luscious whole. Each element enhances the melodic and harmonic beauty in the songs and brings out their emotional core.
My Favourite Tracks Analyzed
“Undecided” begins as flowing air moves smoothly, joined by synth with an orange glow as clapping percussion mingles with throbbing bass. Jumping drums support LAU’s strong and expressive voice as Melissa McNaught’s chorus moves around it while chimes shine.
The vocal melody is hopeful and tentative at the same time as a steady synth pulse skips while chimes sparkle. The chorus rises with strength and heart as luminous, medium-high synth chords call out. Now Melissa McNaught’s voice has a tender tone as bending synth wriggles.
After a robotized voice, Oliver Payn adds his caressing tones as raised synth glistens and the full-sounding synth chords add more brilliance to the music. Melissa McNaught fills her voice with a mixture of need and tentative feeling.
LAU’s voice climbs with the other voices in harmonic richness as the drums and bass form a guiding pulse. The chorus sails up high, emotion pouring out, as the percussion bursts. Melissa McNaught lets her voice arc upward and the track ends on lush synth.
Our narrator is willing to take on the sadness and worries of the song’s subject but “it’s been a while and you’re undecided.” There’s a fear that the song’s subject might fade away. She’s willing to wait for the other person to be with her “even if time isn’t moving fast” since they connect so well. She adds that “I don’t wanna keep loving undecided.
The connection is fresh and new but the storyteller says that “I don’t wanna feel so overexcited If I’m not gonna see you soon.” Now she’s waiting to get a call from the other person who knows that she’s there waiting. I enjoy the lines, “Give me your fears and bury the past. Can’t you see you’re made of glass?”
Our tale’s teller will illuminate the song subject’s grey skies and imagines the two of them as they “chase the clouds and dance in the rain.” However she has to keep wondering about the other person’s commitment, trying to be patient as she reminds them “you know that I choose you, don’t wanna lose you.”
In conclusion, she feels that she is waiting too long, asking the other person “Why is it that you’re so undecided?” All she wants is to be with the song’s subject, not to be overexcited because “I don’t wanna keep wondering if you love me, tell me what you feel right now.”
Broad-sounding bells carry a yearning melody out over easily skipping drums and flowing bass tinged with digital sparkles to open “Give Her Your Love.” LAU’s voice is lightly touching and dreamy, carrying the energizing and positive melody as tambourine tickles the music.
A guitar adds a touch of gruffness as the bells dance and undulating bass ripples. Emma Ballantine’s light and soothing voice carries the uplifting vocal melody out over strong low end muscle. There’s motivation and joy in the lyrics as the guitar leaps with wonderful, unstoppable energy.
Now chimes trickle as the song flows into a swirling, misty effulgence and the percussion drops out. The two singers entwine their voices as metallic, gleaming arpeggios spin.
The guitar jumps into a solo full of aspiration and reaching energy as it flies on musical wings. The main synth melody carries radiance and happiness within it as the vocals climb higher with irrepressible expression and the song ends.
Sometimes a person comes along who fits us perfectly and brings us to life. In this song, the narrator is encouraging the song’s subject to accept that person’s love. When the song’s subject’s feeling discouraged, the narrator reminds them to “look into her eyes and realign” because they can’t fight life’s tide. Instead she tells them to "find the fire, get ignited.”
To have found a person who makes them “feel brand new”, our storyteller reminds the song’s subject that they must have been doing something right. The song bursts with encouragement for the other person to “give her your love.” Nothing will make the song’s subject more joyful because of the time they took to find their love.
Although we all run the risk of getting hurt, the narrator encourages the other person to have an open heart. In the midst of being “all alone, nobody there at home” the song’s subject can still a sense of fresh love “just like you’re seventeen.”
As the song winds down, the teller of the tale points out that when they get together “nothing really matters.” The song’s subject was alone and lost until the other person came along and “now she has become your world.”
“Broken Hearts” starts out as flashing luminosity leaps from wide-sounding chimes as dense bass supports the encouraging chords. Fat drums rebound as LAU’s engaging voice echoes with intense feeling as the drums steadily rebound and the synth chords yearn upward.
Kidburn’s voice is full of feeling and gently winds around the listener’s ears, carrying mingled ache and supportive expression with skill. The chiming notes have a solar flicker in them as smooth retro drums bounce.
Shining, glossy synth chords sail out as Kidburn and LAU share the vocal duties, the guitar unfurling as it sobs and then arcs skyward above the solid drumbeat. The two singers pour out aspiration as the lyrics urge a move towards more positive thinking.
Sometimes in life, it is all a matter of getting the right perspective. The teller of this tale reminds the other person that only they can know what’s really going on inside their heads. The song’s subject wants to let go of everything, but the narrator asks, “Are you really fine?” They add that life feels “contrived” for the other person who needs to take some time.
Our narrator points out that the song's subject feels like they are falling each time they shut their eyes to sleep. The teller of the tale adds, “You wonder now how many broken hearts you can recall.” The other person tried to take a quick way out but survived against the odds.
Our storyteller goes on to remind the song subject that if they don't try, they'll never know. They go on to say "you wanna dive in, you wanna try to fall back in love” and they encourage the other person by pointing out that they’ll find someone with any luck. The narrator concludes, “hold your head up, you’re gonna be fine somehow, try to see the world with different eyes.”
An illuminating synth cloud glows in the background while gargantuan bass undulates and big retro drums burst to commence “What To Do.” A synth rises in radiant trembling motion as LAU’s ear-pleasing, enfolding voice also rises, carrying a melody that is wistful and hopeful.
Natalie Gray adds her own deeply emotive vocals as the massive low end throbs and synth flares out. Vibrating synth lines pour out intense shine to lift the mood of the song. Natalie Gray’s smooth voice glides with silky expression and soulful feeling as lambent arpeggios twirl.
After a guitar flourish, Natalie Gray’s voice erupts with emotive power and the drums and bass drive hard. Rounded, warming synth chords swell up and LAU’s voice captures all the emotion in the lyrics. Drums fly in again and Natalie Gray and LAU bring their voices together in deep expression above the brilliant synth light as the song ends.
Sometimes emotional connections begin in ways that one can’t predict and adjusting to them is tough. Our storyteller has found a connection online and realizes that “this remote romancing is hard to maintain.” In spite of that, she can’t stop thinking about te other person.
The narrator asks the other person to tell her what to do with the love she feels and with her heart because at this point “I’ve got nowhere else to hide, I’ve got nowhere else to run.” She finds herself falling to pieces without the other person beside her.
Her mental state is fragile during the “complicated madness” of the relationship. She feels stifled by her silence and finds it hard to live with.
Ultimately the storyteller wishes they could pretend they were already together in person and “it’s like real life and we feel like we touch the sky and you’re mine.”
“Circumstance” begins as fragile notes shimmer out in a lightly touching arpeggiation. Deeply throbbing bass and tapping drums move below LAU’s broad-ranging voice as it carries an expectant melody above surging drums and bass.
Need and affection fill LAU’s voice as the scudding drums keep up their guiding beat. I Am Boleyn’s singing is rich and full of feeling as it effectively carries all the yearning and possibility in the lyrics. The giant low end pushes on while glistening synth twirls out.
LAU and I Am Boleyn interlock their voices and resonant chimes drift. The guitar soars up with intense emotion, flying high as the drums and bass press onward while the synths glow and we end on bells with ear-touching warmth.
The uncertainty of a remote relationship along with the anticipation of what is to come mingle for the narrator of this song. The “distant bond” they have is turning her world on end and “your love has got me tied up.” Now her heart is racing and she feels as if she has been "waiting for this moment all my life.” She hopes that the other person will meet her at the airport when she arrives.
While the unusual nature of their relationship is undeniable, they have to try to keep the connection going. The narrator asks, “Oh why, has life kept us so far?” She’s nervous about things but she still wants to take a chance on it. In her dreams, she’s felt the other person’s “fingers on my skin” and that thought has remained with her. She holds on to it with her heart racing as she has “been waiting for this moment all my life.”
In the end they are both about to enter “a new world undiscovered” and what will happen is indefinable so they both have to reach acceptance of whatever occurs.
Slowly and with melancholy, trembling synth chords move with delicate caresses as tender chimes sparkle to commence “If You Could Know.” LAU and Matteo Bertini mingle their first rate voices as they carry needy expression.
Steady drums pound and gleaming arpeggios twirl in time to the low end’s throb. LAU’s strong voice leaps with as Matteo Bertini’s deep resonance balances it as diamond chimes glide.
Matteo Bertini’s gruff voice erupts to support LAU above skipping synth oscillation and pulsing drums. The two singers trade parts as a wildly twirling synth solo glows and tumbles above the heavy drumbeat before the song draws to a close.
Connections that form, even mediated through the Internet, can be powerful and deep. The storyteller was captivated by the other person’s smile when they first connected “on a rainy April day” but now the song's subject is indecisive. Even so, she has agreed to wait as she anticipates how ““our hearts would melt and beat like one.”
All the narrator needs now is the other person’s “tender love” so that people would realize that they weren’t crazy. She has found her place “in the middle of nowhere” with the other person.
Her frustration is clear because the song’s subject is unwilling to change, making her wonder if its the right time or “is it better to wait and find another light?” She yearns to be near to the other person but she is so distant now.
Our storyteller knows that people are questioning if the other person is right for her but they “live in my mind just like a new song.” The doubters add that it is hard to make long distance relationships work but she’s used to it now. She concludes, “Give me all your loving tonight, baby don’t say no ‘cause I don’t wanna lose you now.”
“The Fire” starts as funky electric bass moves along with bright synth and a solidly throbbing drumbeat kicks hard along with the bass groove. LAU lets loose with passionate, heartfelt energy in her voice above the locked in low end.
Lessus’ gutsy and expressive voice carries the energetic melody as a nasal-sounding synth carries a jazz-inflected, whirling melody. LAU cries out as the swirling, dancing guitar deepens the funky flow.
The chorus rings out with arcing energy above the pumping low end as some disco strings jump in. Flashing lead synth sings with lively motion and horns flare with brassy radiance before the song ends.
After heartbreak, starting in a new relationship can be tough, but the song’s subject still wants to try with the narrator. They say that they can’t recall how it feels to be in love with someone. They're afraid to start the relationship and bring the other person down. He adds, “You never put your love on the line."
The storyteller explores their feelings of desire that are building up, wishing the other person could “just put out the fire.” Their feelings are undeniable and they shouldn’t fight them. They muse on why loving and finding someone to share our lives with is so hard. Our storyteller concludes by stating that “I think I can’t live without your love.”
Waves wash as serene synth arpeggios twirl to open “Different.” LAU’s aching voice is interwoven and harmonized with the other vocals as softly touching, delicate synth traces limns their engaging sound.
LAU’s enfolding and calming voice carries an aching melody above the undulating arpeggios. Quick synth shimmers flicker and punchy drums kick in while arpeggios spin out. LAU’s powerfully emotive voice flows and Heartracer’s voice is rich and pained as it carries the needy melody.
Synth flashes with radiant light above the strong low end while the lush arpeggios turn. A sax calls out, reedy energy deepening the song’s melancholy. Heartracer’s voice captures all the yearning in the lyrics as they move through the song.
Even when a relationship is in difficulty, a deep desire for connection can still exist. The narrator felt so alone without the song’s subject in her life, even though they are different people. She says “I can’t argue with fate” in that regard. She wishes that the other person wanted her because “I can ease your pain.”
Our narrator realizes that their relationship’s “a long shot” but still wants to give it a try. She understands that the song’s subject might find the idea crazy but says “I know that I want you and I want you to stay.” The other person’s presence grounds her and completes her.
If the song’s subject is struggling, she will try to help them heal and get stronger. She adds that “I’m almost someone else” when she is with the other person. She knows that she’s willing to try with the other person. They are now far apart and the storyteller can’t forgive herself for hurting the song’s subject.
In spite of that, she feels it may have been for the best, adding that she might be losing her mind but “I know that I want you so I’m coming back.”
“Instant Sunshine” starts as clapping percussion moves from muffled quiet into active disco motion. LAU’s voice bursts with her signature power as bass undulates underneath. Deep, funky synth and sunny chimes flash as Alessandra Boldrini’s passionate voice joins LAU’s to add heartfelt energy.
The disco vibes are massive and propulsive while the percussion drives. Metallic chimes flicker and Alessandra Boldrini’s voice is wonderfully full of intensity and affection. The motivating chorus lifts the song’s energy levels sky high. There’s groovy joy in the thumping disco beat that launches the music forward with funky and fun dynamism.
Alessandra Boldrini’s soulful delivery matches LAU’s as rapid synth cascades. Now Alessandra Boldrini adds a rap segment and swirling synth moves past as the chorus bursts out. The guitar unwinds in a dynamically tumbling cascade and the music ends.
Sometimes desire and yearning build until they are hard to contain in a long distance relationship. The storyteller asks to be told a “hopeful lie” because she doesn’t want to be innocent. Her desire is strong and she can feel the other person’s presence. She says that “distance is always known to deepen the surprise” of meeting the other person and she promises to get to the other person “like the speed of light.”
Our narrator says that the other person brings “instant sunshine” to her life. All she can do is fantasize because words won’t suffice. She hopes the song’s subject will love her for one more night. The narrator wishes to fly to the other person because “I just can’t wait so long to have you in my arms.”
She has waited months for them to come together as she’d rather not be by herself. She has no intention of letting the other person go now. She concludes, “I’ll admit you’re on my mind but our love’s still undefined and I just keep counting time like 1, 2, 3, hey.”
Gently gruff synth carries a melancholy melody to open “True Colours.” LAU’s vocals are caressing and soothing as flaring chimes gleam. Powerful bass throbs along with gigantic, rebounding drums. Radiant arpeggios twirl as LAU’s voice carries the warming vocal melody, rich with encouragement and gentleness.
Glimmering arpeggios tremble and the tremulously emotive melody calls out. Minute Taker’s tender voice carries the melody as it spreads deep love and appreciation. Colossal drums rebound and effulgent arpeggios continue to spin. The two singers create heartwarming harmonies as their voices intermingle and rise together.
The song conveys a positive message as arpeggios add more luminosity. I enjoy the way the two vocalists manage to create a real sense of connection backed by musical depth. Chimes flicker along with Minute Taker’s voice as it drifts out. LAU’s voice joins again as the guitar glides out in a solo that has soul and depth before silence falls.
In the face of life’s challenges, sometimes one has to show their true inner strength. Our narrator tells the song’s subject not to lose heart in a complicated world, even when “the darkness inside you makes you feel so small.”
The storyteller can see the song’s subject’s “true colors” as they shine through and reminds the other person to let them show. They point out that those colors are “beautiful like a rainbow” and wants the other person to show their smile.
Now the narrator asks the other person not to be sad because they haven’t heard their laugh in a long time. They remind the song’s subject that “if this world makes you crazy and you've taken all you can bear, you call me up” as they’ll be around and see the other person’s true colors shining.
Conclusion
Circumstance (Take Two) starts with the strong basis of the original album and takes it to new heights thanks to the musical support of the #synthfam. The amount of talent, added to her own abilities, makes a powerful impression on me here.
