Review: Love is Noise – To Live in a Different Way

Genre-blending, shoegaze-induced metallers exceeded themselves with solid debut outing

Ever since I caught Love Is Noise opening for Holding Absence in Nottingham two years ago, I’ve been keeping tabs on the now solo outfit. While its personnel may have whittled down from three to one, you get the feeling that Love is Noise is vocalist/guitarist Cam Humphrey’s project, especially on the evidence of their debut album. While ‘To live in a different way’, maintains the ethereal essence of what LiN has done previously, it’s considerably more consistently packaged here.

On the surface, Humphrey, along with now former guitarist Tom Mellon (who’s since left to explore other musical endeavours), ‘To live in a different way’ takes shoegaze-inspired metal and makes it sounder bigger, even ambitious. It’s paired with a thematic foundation that is cathartic, embracing the feeling of love, lost, and hope. ‘Devotion’ sets the tone early on with lines such as “My everything, What’s mine is yours tonight” wrapped around by a Britpop melody. Its overall delivery is wide and layered. In contrast, ‘Soft Glow’ is more immediate, allowing Humphrey to deliver a simple but effective hook of “You are the one that shines on me”. The track also highlights LiN‘s ability to shift in tone instantly. One moment Humphrey’s voice is soulful, the next he’s unhinged being eaten up by the paranoia of being in love can bring.

After several listens, you begin to realise Love is Noise can deliver favourable hooks. ‘take.one.minute’ sees Humphrey hit a high vocal register, backed by a familiar Deftones-like wall of sound. Later on, ‘Sunshine’s sombre lyrics are countered by a beaming chorus that skyrockets bringing a sense of comfort. Likewise ‘Jawbreaker’ is frantic with its Glassjaw-esque delivered verses and radiant chorus filled with chartism and lost love. Humphrey’s emotional purge is expressed throughout, none more so on ‘Evelyn’. Here is where shoegaze and abrasive rock clash head-on, to create a dense brand post-rock. Although it’s far from a highlight, it’s executed with a hypnotic delivery.

‘It hurts to know you’re there’ sees Humphrey’s mournful words of a departed friend be uplifted by radiant instrumentation and a notable guitar solo reminiscent of Oasis’ mid to late 90s peak. The title track maintains the lyrical tone with its soothing versus and luminous choruses with alluring lines such as “Tonight, We open our hearts”. There is no doubt Cameron has done this. No matter if it’s masked in the post-hardcore grit of ‘take.one.minute’ or the tender pairing of ‘Amnedia’ and ‘Mist’. Furthermore, the album’s finale, ‘Ascending’ amplifies Humphrey’s bare openness. As twinkling instrumentals swell in, he admits “Here I stand before you”, offering himself, whether that is the listener or someone (or something) greater than all of us. Its steady build brings together all the dynamic elements littered throughout the album. With dense percussion and overdriven guitars, it leads to a conclusion of acceptance – “Embrace the song and its glory, You will feel, harmony.”

Much like the genre-blending execution that ‘To live in a different way’ showcases, Love Is Noise sees Cam Humphrey releasing the shackles. It allows him to put his raw, vulnerable self out there for all to see. It results in a pure and uplifting journey for you the listener, and Humphrey. For a debut full-length, Humphrey (and Tom Mellon) have exceeded themselves, and laid down a firm foundation to build towards something extraordinary.

‘To Live in a Different Way’ by Love Is Noise is out now on Century Media.