Ambergrove’s latest single is as colorful as the one preceding it, both as colorful -and as whimsical- as the name of the group. Coming to be initially as a gift for fans who enjoyed ‘dØves!’, the band’s breakthrough single, ‘lØve!’ soon stood on its two feet as a glistening piece of experimental pop that’s quizzically fulfilling and mature.
Referring to themselves as more of a collective than a band in the traditional sense of the word, Ambergrove are based in the Californian San Luis Obispo, and ‘lØve!’ is the title of their latest release, featuring the spoken work of the up-and-coming UK-based artist Dre Ishmail. The song got me in a similar state of mind to that instilled by Coldplay’s modern, experimental electronica, found in particular on 2014’s Ghost Stories, or their latest, Music of the Spheres, in that it is ethereal, grand, effervescent with color pops and creamy textures. ‘lØve!’ is a delightful little experimental that slides extremely smoothly.
Based in synths and stretched vocal samples to support Ishamil’s heartwarming, spoken verse, the song started as a section of ‘dØves!’ reversed, which is in the beginning of ‘lØve!’, but the piece soon evolves into its own thing with sparkling piano trills, a buoyant synth bass, and processed, operatic choirs.
‘lØve!’ is unquestionably dense. A little too dense for radio perhaps. Yet, it is somehow extremely light, like a thick layer of foam. Ambergrove have created something truly worthwhile with ‘lØve!’.