Other Lives: For Their Love
Throughout all their releases, Other Lives have created a consistent mood. There’s a depth and melancholy to their songs, from their 2009 self-titled debut to 2015’s Rituals, and the Oklahoma-bred band has an uncanny ability to draw listeners into that atmosphere for the duration of an album. On For Their Love, the band’s first full-length release in five years, that mood is even more tangible and well-drawn, aided in particular by cinematic layers of sound and frontman Jesse Tabish’s evocative voice. Tabish has said the songs are a reflection of human feeling in the current state of affairs, looking at how society copes with so much social and political turmoil. The album, self-produced by the band, feels reflective even if you ignore the lyrics—the sound itself is pensive and questioning, offering an opportunity to both consider and accept. “Lost Day,” the LP’s first single, has a propulsive chorus, with voices layering behind that of Tabish, while “Dead Language” centers on a sparse acoustic vibe. Penultimate track “Who’s Gonna Love Us?” is the standout, augmented with piano and strings that reach an almost chaotic feeling as Tabish asks the titular question over and over again. Other Lives hasn’t always gotten the sort of attention or credit they’re due. Yet, their music is consistently considered and emotionally engaging, without coming off as flashy or overtly hooky. It’s music you want to listen to alone, in a solitary room or driving home at night—putting you in the right meditative state to ask, and potentially answer, the same sort of questions the lyrics are asking.
