Lucy Love - Kilo (20/08/2011)
It would be too easy to declare Lucy Love to be Europe’s answer to Lady Gaga. The truth is, in a Gaga-less world, Love would still be making the same music. Her second album, Kilo, is a marvelous volatile potion of hip-hop, grime and pulsating dub step, that bleeds as much eccentricity and charisma as the exciting 26 year old herself.
Born in Zambia and raised on dance-floors in Copenhagen and London, Love’s unique blend of cultural and musical influences is strongly apparent on Kilo. Love has built a solid identity around the clubbing and partying scenes to which she was introduced by her “DJ Daddy” as a child. She knows who she is and isn’t afraid to tell you. She’s “not a rockstar, [she’s] not a popstar; [she’s] a rapper” ('I'm a Rapper').'
‘Poison’ seems to epitomise the smooth ambiance and unique sophistication of the underground London hip-hop scene so perfectly that it could have written itself. It’s hard not to get swept up in the sheer excitement of it all. It's catchy and her hooks are so sharp that once you’ve been reeled in, there’s no escaping.
The ferocious rumble that is ‘Thunder’ is easily the highlight of the album. The eerie bass pulses through the first verse and chorus, with Love attesting “this could get serious”, immediately evoking feelings of trepidation, but also a curious excitement for what’s next. It’s at this point that is explodes into a frenetic and formidable second verse that could easily have fit in any great electronica song of the ‘90s.
The obvious hit of the album is ‘Who You Are’. If there’s any justification to the Lady Gaga comparisons, it’s this track. It’s not just the ego-propelling lyrical affirmations such as “the limelight never lies, it won’t steal who you are” that warrant these parallels. It’s exactly what a Gaga song would sound like if she was a cockney rapper.
Ultimately, Kilo gets repetitive. Though beguilingly catchy and definitely indicative of potential for future pop prowess at times, the songs all begin to sound the same. She’s a confident 20-something woman and she likes to rap about it over drum and bass - that’s pretty much the entire album. Thankfully, it isn’t overflowing with randomly snatched samples and frustrating loops, but this means other than her occasionally memorable melodies and contagious attitude, there’s not much to draw you in.
She unquestionably has the makings of the next MIA. If she pulls some of that blistering attitude and confidence from her lyrics and injects it into the music, Lucy Love will become a hit-machine. This is definitely a space to watch.
Lara Moates
Born in Zambia and raised on dance-floors in Copenhagen and London, Love’s unique blend of cultural and musical influences is strongly apparent on Kilo. Love has built a solid identity around the clubbing and partying scenes to which she was introduced by her “DJ Daddy” as a child. She knows who she is and isn’t afraid to tell you. She’s “not a rockstar, [she’s] not a popstar; [she’s] a rapper” ('I'm a Rapper').'
‘Poison’ seems to epitomise the smooth ambiance and unique sophistication of the underground London hip-hop scene so perfectly that it could have written itself. It’s hard not to get swept up in the sheer excitement of it all. It's catchy and her hooks are so sharp that once you’ve been reeled in, there’s no escaping.
The ferocious rumble that is ‘Thunder’ is easily the highlight of the album. The eerie bass pulses through the first verse and chorus, with Love attesting “this could get serious”, immediately evoking feelings of trepidation, but also a curious excitement for what’s next. It’s at this point that is explodes into a frenetic and formidable second verse that could easily have fit in any great electronica song of the ‘90s.
The obvious hit of the album is ‘Who You Are’. If there’s any justification to the Lady Gaga comparisons, it’s this track. It’s not just the ego-propelling lyrical affirmations such as “the limelight never lies, it won’t steal who you are” that warrant these parallels. It’s exactly what a Gaga song would sound like if she was a cockney rapper.
Ultimately, Kilo gets repetitive. Though beguilingly catchy and definitely indicative of potential for future pop prowess at times, the songs all begin to sound the same. She’s a confident 20-something woman and she likes to rap about it over drum and bass - that’s pretty much the entire album. Thankfully, it isn’t overflowing with randomly snatched samples and frustrating loops, but this means other than her occasionally memorable melodies and contagious attitude, there’s not much to draw you in.
She unquestionably has the makings of the next MIA. If she pulls some of that blistering attitude and confidence from her lyrics and injects it into the music, Lucy Love will become a hit-machine. This is definitely a space to watch.
Lara Moates