Love Like Fire

Female-fronted and full of fire, San Francisco’s LoveLikeFire are a refreshing blend of late-90s keyboard-driven indie pop (Vagrant Records style – Koufax, The Get-up Kids, etc.) and uber-hip Williamsburg rock (think Yeah Yeah Yeahs or We Are Scientists). An Ocean in the Air is LoveLikeFire’s latest offering, and shows that this band is not far from indie stardom, so get on board this bandwagon now.



LoveLikeFire come out swinging, literally, with “Unlighted Shadow.” Over lightly swung rhythms and church-worthy organs, vocalist Ann Yu shows off her powerful voice, demanding attention and forcing you to keep listening for the remainder of the album.

Yu’s choice of vocal melodies on “Wish You Dead” are intriguing to say the least, with the track overall recalling the post-Joy Division stylings of The Stills or current critical darlings The National. Part march, part-waltz, “Broken Shapes” is heavy on the chill factor, allowing Yu to truly shine, wearing her vulnerability like a badge of honor.

Driven by a fuzzed out bass and guitarist Ted Parker’s Minus the Bear-ish leads, “SOS” is pure pop poetry, a proclamation to revel in positivity – the type of song that can do no more than make you smile. With the addition of Yuan Zhou’s cello, “Skin and Bones” is LoveLikeFire’s most adventurous undertaking and a complete and total success – more melancholy Brit-rock (Blur, Pulp) than the band's previously pop-driven offerings.

The acoustic “I Will,” while still an interesting listen, dampens much of the high energy indie rock displayed earlier on Ocean, though. But hey – it’s the last track and you can skip it if you feel like it (which is what I do).

Seven songs deep, An Ocean in the Air shows that LoveLikeFire are just a few watts away from true buzzworthy status.

www.myspace.com/lovelikefire