SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: LÅPSLEY – THESE ELEMENTS

Låpsley
These Elements
XL Recordings

Rhythmic elements run through an ambient electronic and soulful sound which emanate from this four-track musical release. Unique beats and clicks keep the listener engaged and interested in hearing what’s next. This is the third EP release for Holly Låpsley Fletcher, English singer-songwriter and producer. It’s been a few years of relative silence since her 2016 debut album Long Way Home. For 23-year-old Låpsley, the album is about “emotional love, physical desire, depression, and self-worth. Everything I’ve gone through in the last four years is in these four songs.”

The progression of These Elements feels very natural. The groove warms you up in “My Love Was Like The Rain”, before transitioning into “Eve”, perfect for those wintery dance vibes. “Ligne 3” really showcases some deeper vocal parts, emphasizing the lyrics through repetition and leaving more space in amongst the phrasing. “Drowning” ties the EP back together; honing in on the theme of The Elements – reflecting the various pools of water from her music video.

The thoughtful shots give way to an eerie feel, while the observer tries to piece together a puzzle out of Låpsley’s diary. Given the lyrics, “Remember when you said my love was like the rain/Not the sweet sound after the drought/But the pain of it hard on your back in a storm,” it’s clear that the troubling love dynamic gave way to this sense of darkness and doom, all the while, Låpsley embodies These Elements with grace and elegance.

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