An Honest Look at Love
L.A Heartbreak is the third album from the married duo that makes up Rainbow Arabia. This time the duo venture into a world of ’80s electro pop, and temporarily move away from the darker punk influences found on their previous albums. Though at first glance the album is covered in a bright airy sheen of synth, that layer begins to crack and the darker spots begin to show as the album reflects more of the couple’s relationship during the creation and the strain of working creatively with someone so close.
“Modern Contemporary” opens up the album with a bright and airy intro that just drips with optimism. It is the sound of the beginning or high point of any relationship, as the song echoes the words “always been you and me” over and over. “Followed” slows down to allow for some introspection and thoughts to the future as the relationship is really thought about. “Top Hat” leaves behind both the ’80s synth and the happy relationship vibe as the music turns towards a more modern club beat that is more familiar for Rainbow Arabia as the relationship finally reaches a full break. The last half of the album follows the rocky relationship up to the final song “Juneau,” leaving listeners wondering what will come next.
The ease of L.A Heartbreak, its light simple melodies and almost the cliche of easy going summer love songs, seem almost too safe of a genre to explore; nothing every really pushes the limits and maybe the lyrics about failing relationships and changes are too easily relatable. Given, though, that the product that is L.A Heartbreak seems more meant to be for exploring their own relationship rather than a full product for an audience, the safety of it is rather smart and allows for additional depth to be explored in the underlying tones and the cracks that break the shimmer, letting the facets of their relationship come full circle.
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