Free Love
| Sylvan Esso
Free Love
Free Love is the third studio album by American indie pop duo Sylvan Esso, made up of singer Amelia Meath and producer Nick Sanborn, released on September 25, 2020, by Loma Vista Recordings. -Wikipedia
Critic Reviews
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Under the Radar Magazine
With the joy of discovery of their debut and the letter perfect follow-up prostrate to the altar of sound itself, Sylvan Esso’s third was left with hard acts to follow. For a duo that to this point seemed in full command of their mission, trying out some well-worn paths only leaves them flat footed in the wrong places. There was no need to try and fall in love with everybody else’s stuff when they already knew the secret.
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Consequence of Sound
The North Carolina-based duo grapple with the existential on their stunning, new record.
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NME
a sonic tug-of-war that’s light on the duo’s trademark bops.
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Paste Magazine
It’s a beautiful moment, and a perfect ending to an album with its share of both high points and flaws.
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Far Out Magazine
A dose of existential excellence from Sylvan Esso on their ‘Free Love’ LP.
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Commedia
“Free Love” is a great step for the band towards a far more inventive sound, but maybe next time the group will provide an album with a stronger flow for their listeners to engage with.
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Beats Per Minute
Free Love is almost like pop music in miniature: scale models of summer jams, almost as if the duo wrote them from inside a particularly chill music box. In doing this, the songs don’t have as much power as they once did, even though Meath and Sanborn clearly feel very comfortable in this style — with his beats and soundscapes always attenuate but mobile, and her voice as effortlessly elastic and beautiful as ever.
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The Young Folks
Every song on Free Love is compelling in its way. Even during brief songs, the subject matter feels rich, as in “Free,” in which the singer expresses love for her imagined self, seen in so many other minds but her own. There are handfuls of treasure to be dug up on Free Love, although the gold may not shine as bright as you expect it to on its first appearance. But brush it off, look again, and you’ll find an album that rewards repeated listens and yet another adjustment to our expectations for each new Sylvan Esso release.
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mxdwn Music
The duo has created an immensely successful album that is about reminding oneself that love exists to make people feel good and whole, no matter what external circumstances may present.
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Diandra Reviews It All
More than previous records, her voice feels at a delicate forefront, which makes sense when you are promoting Free Love.
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DIY Magazine
Exactly what pop music should be: punchy and pure.
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All Music
Detractors will rightfully point out that Free Love utilizes the same sonic architecture as its predecessors, but it's a fairly idiosyncratic template and one that Meath and Sanborn have shown great skill with over three albums now. Besides, the world always needs more dance music for introverts.
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The Line of Best Fit
Rife with tenderness and restless energy, Free Love is Sylvan Esso at their most cohesive.
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Treblezine
Free Love is, in fact, perfect bedroom pop for a pandemic: there’s plenty of opportunity to dance around the room so the endorphins kick in, but it encourages the listener to sit down with some good headphones to absorb the tiny nuances that go into making impeccable electronic music.
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The Forty-Five
On their third full-length album, vocalist Amelia Meath and producer Nick Sanborn continue on their mission to push the boundaries of pop music, blending edgy electronic sounds with Meath’s gorgeous vocals. The end results are ten angular, multi-faceted synth-pop gems and a stunning addition to their growing catalogue.
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