Hello! 😊👋
Welcome to a new edition of the Best Music of All Time newsletter!
Today’s music pick is a lush, transfixing hybrid between vintage lounge music and film score.
Genre: Alternative, Experimental
Label: Jagjaguwar
Release Date: February 16, 2024
Vibe: 😶🌫️
“Good evening,” Lewis purrs in the opening moments of On The Lips. “Tonight I’ll be … whistling.”
After listening to the entire album, you realize it’s more than just foreshadowing. With a wink and a smile, it's an acknowledgment that Lewis is aware of how eccentric the concept sounds on the surface. An entire record of nothing but whistling, backed by vintage-sounding cocktail lounge jazz instrumentals? It can’t actually be that engrossing, can it? At least, that’s where my jaded mind went during the first few minutes. However, two or three songs in, the energy shifted from novelty factor to something approaching sepia-toned timelessness. You can picture Lewis occupying a velvet-curtained nightclub in a David Lynch film, oozing a smoky, seductive style that’s both dreamy and instantly familiar.
It’s also worth mentioning how impressive the whistling is throughout. Lewis's breathing and tonal control of her considerable instrument is impressive, especially when you consider how emotional payoffs are left to sink or swim on inflections that are so understated that you’ll miss them if you’re not careful. The steadiness of her performance on “Slinky,” one of the record’s standouts, anchors the synths and strings, giving it an ominously alluring quality. The Bossa Nova-esque “Cocosette” sees her hitting a final, throbbing note that rivals how any singer would’ve stuck the landing with lyrics. There are also instrumental highlights abound, including a saxophone solo on “Lounge Lizard” that’s to die for.
You may not consider yourself a lover of whistling in popular music, but after On The Lips, you’ll at least be an appreciator.
👉 Don’t forget to click the album image to stream the album on your favorite platform 👈