One Track Mind

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On April 13th, San Francisco foursome LoveLikeFire released their debut effort, Tear Ourselves Away, via Heist or Hit Records. Their premiere is a confident eleven song collection whose tracks are a deft blend of grace and power, incorporating elements of post-rock, shoegaze, and traditional indie-rock. Vocalist Ann Yu’s performances are a microcosm of the band’s musical dynamic–delicate around the edges at times while quaking with feverish intensity at others.

Tear Ourselves Away commences with “William,” a majestic, nearly five minute long composition whose fervency ebbs and flows in tidal fashion. The song gets underway with a slowly rising squall of guitar feedback and synth washes, and when Yu’s vocals enter, they are a catalyst for a gradual intensification. By the track’s end, the music has escalated to a grand finale, its guitars bursting away like so many fireworks. “William” has a broad appeal, at least insofar as the indie-ish spectrum is concerned; it is easy to imagine the Interpol kids agreeing with Doves fans on this one, with the old Siouxsie Sioux devotees getting on board, too. LoveLikeFire give listeners much to admire, covering a lot of ground with an impressive amount of poise.