Many an artist has pivoted towards solo work after their own group’s departure. This can be tough, both with longtime fans holding so much expectation for future work as well as the simple difference of relying more on oneself. But with his time as the frontman and force behind Halifax indie-rock favourite Glory Glory in the rearview, Adam Warren is moving into inspiring new territory as waants, and his debut Love U Forever is here and ready for your summer soundtrack.
It’s an interesting trajectory to trace: from Glory Glory’s final release of Where The People Are to Love U Forever. While there was a taste of the direction Warren would take as waants, it is pleasantly surprising just how deeply his sound plunges into the dance-pop stream. What does stay the same is the caring and focussed heart that underlies both endeavours, which waants wears on his sleeve throughout this album.
Love U Forever wields a delightfully eclectic electropop sound. There are some solid comparisons to be drawn to both MGMT as well as Gorillaz more sunny work a la The Now Now. But by far the biggest influential thumbprint comes from mixer/producer Justin Gerrish (Vampire Weekend, Rostam), who mentored Warren in 2016. Approach and soundwise, the album rings of Rostam, and while not necessarily having the same sound as those Vampire Weekend classics, the adventurous and inspired production choices are a strong indicator of the fantastic influence Gerrish has had on Waants process.
A distinctly youthful energy and tone pervade Love U Forever, but there is a maturity and levelheadedness to the approach that comes in clearly from waants’ lived experience as an artist. Opener “Hopeless” bursts forward with California-coloured synths and juicy guitar lines, and balances this with a very genuine and grounded vocal delivery. “When Summer Comes” is one of the most subdued aestival bops, and that feels like very much the point, as the minimalist bass and steels accent waants’ distinct voice.
Waants finds fitting collaborative choices in Sorrey and Keeper E., both having voices that complement his own and work well within his sonic playing field. “Keep Careful” in particular has Sorrey’s voice floating beautifully amidst the dance space Waants conjures, creating a nodding, sunset catharsis.
The true essence of Love U Forever that makes it work so well is its equilibrium. The well-executed melange of bubbly and brooding energy is what makes each individual track and the whole of Love U Forever so captivating, and it is “Slipping Away” that stands out at the core of this balance. The pulsing synths, the cricketing beat, and the static cloaked vocals make for a dark dance hit worthy of any moody midnight machinations and showcase an edge and a dread that highlights its trace throughout the album.
waants has made a truly captivating piece of pop. Love U Forever exhibits not only his exponential growth as an artist but a general skill and passion for the sounds he is working within. Clever and caring, lively and lulling, this album signals waants coming into his own, and that’s some of the greatest glory one can hope for.