When the already well-traveled The Chill Companions set out to the Hawaiian Islands to write the material for their new album, they were entranced by the serene scenery and atmosphere. However, being caught up in the aftermath of the 2023 Lahaina fires on Maui and experiencing the Kilauea volcano eruption in Hawaii, notably had a great impact on the album’s theme. The result of this is a beautiful and self-aware ode to Earth’s most idyllic and simultaneously endangered settings, which leaves listeners floating in its gentle and tranquil ambience.

The Chill Companions’ dreamy sound is introduced in the opening track ‘Timemovesslow’, which begins with a lilting combination of electric guitar and ukulele along with a slow and steady reggae beat. This delightfully sunny vibe is amplified by a glitchy, but chill and euphonious vocal performance that sounds influenced by pop/electronic music. The effect of this is a generally laid-back and smooth sound, which is emphasised by the unhurried tempo and the delicate tinkling of the string instruments.

The lyrics “And we’ll be there to experience all of its beauty, or maybe we won’t. It’s up to us to make that choice, and life will go on even if we don’t” hold both a passionate appreciation for the natural world and for humans’ responsibility to look after it. The band makes it clear that while we may enjoy these scenes now, nothing lasts forever, and so the messaging in this song becomes even more poignant.

The group displays their talent for merging other genres with their roots/reggae/rock sound cleverly on 2nd track ‘Take Me Back’, when the track opens with jazzy brass over a cool piano melody. Utilising this upbeat rhythm, the harmonious energy of the vocal performance is intensified to a groovy degree. Alternatively, ‘Beach Bums’ exudes a beachy and folksy charm with its spirited acoustic guitar flourishes and foot-tapping reggae beat.

A hard rock edge drenches 4th track ‘Limbo’ right from the start of its tough guitar-powered opening to its catchy refrain “Life is just limbo, so how low will you go”, which is embraced within a spunky and lively instrumental chorus. Again, even with The Chill Companions’ boldly experimental style, the band never neglect their hard-hitting and philosophical lyrics, which above all urge listeners to treasure life and its myriad of experiences.

Track 5, ‘Ignited’, is an introspective track that taps into the audience’s peaceful headspace with its comfortingly constant beat, chill guitar solos, and slickly evocative vocal performance. Similarly, 6th track ‘Wonder’ captures a fleeting feeling of curiosity surrounding life, identity, and the world as a whole. The song combines a moody guitar base with a cheerful chorus of brass instruments and soaring vocals; culminating in a sound that is both striking and immediately arresting in its complexity.

Incredibly, this flair for the unexpected continues to be explored through ‘Paralyzed’, which begins with a reverb-heavy guitar and commanding trumpet intro; fusing the band’s tropical sound with vivid images of the Wild West. It’s a combination that shouldn’t work but absolutely does, and adds a spark of intrigue to The Chill Companions’ already versatile style.

‘Blinded’, ‘Favorite Slice’ and ‘Left in the Dust’ all return to a more soothing ambience with the former drawing on calming island vibes with its acoustic-led instrumental, and ‘Favorite Slice’ incorporating a charmingly playful electric and acoustic guitar blend while still keeping a reggae sound at the forefront of the mix. ‘Left in the Dust’ feels like the perfect soundtrack to any sun-drenched setting with its swaying tempo and stylish guitar solos that only further enchant the listener with its leisurely sound.

11th track ‘A Beautiful Waveform’ seems in itself to be a thing of beauty; the softly lulling strums of an acoustic guitar and light and airy vocals pleasantly greeting the audience’s ears. An element of freedom and love of life is captured in the final track of the album ‘Last Daze of Happiness’, where a calm beat ebbs and flows like the waves on a gentle sea.

The band refer to the fragile, yet still affectionate relationship between humans and nature (“We can stay and try to sort out this mess, or we can have a last daze of happiness”), where our enjoyment of natural spaces often comes at a great cost to the environment. It’s a final thoughtful message in an album rich with love and sentimentality that details the emotional journey of life.

Score/Outstanding: There’s something quite magical about ‘Islands’, and it cannot just be perceived in The Chill Companions’ obvious prowess in exploring multiple genres within their roots/reggae/rock foundations, though this in itself proves to be a great joy. It’s the environmentally and socially aware sentiments that are interwoven so perfectly into graceful songs like ‘Timemovesslow’, that really force listeners to connect with the material on a spiritually deeper level. A very special album indeed.

[We rank singles, EPs, and albums on a scale of Poor, Mediocre, Good, Excellent, and Outstanding]

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