C=T contributor, Kathleen Tarrant, covered Merge artist, Love Language at Hi-Dive earlier this week. You can catch them on the road with Telekinesis through March.
the Love Language-the Heart to Tell [mp3]
The Love Language, hailing from North Carolina, took the Hi-Dive stage
last night with a humble thanks and not even a pause before launching
into their set, stopping briefly after the the first song to ask
politely for the lights to be turned down, shrouding us all in a
fitting, romantic red glow. The hour long coverage of both their debut
and sophomore album Libraries, out on Merge Records, was determinedly
upbeat and peppy to encourage dancing in the uncommonly packed
Wednesday night show. The balance struck by the four members was
impressive; the lo fi whine of the guitars keeping their grit while
allowing frontman Stuart McLamb’s silvery croon to float over. The
Love Language’s down and out tunes all smack of singles, with hip
shaking melodies that drew most of the crowd away from the bar and a
little closer to the amplifiers. Surprisingly the Raleigh outfit
powered through their more well known songs like “Lalita”, “Sparxxx”,
and “Heart to Tell” early in the set, but managed to keep the
attention of the lip synching fans, and the curious newcomers, with
McLamb’s beguiling wail and The Love Language’s vibe that feels like
every song they play comes impulsively from a rushing forth of raucous
joy.
K. Tarrant