Loveseat

Sven Gamsky can pretty much turn anything into a catchy tune. In ‘Loveseat,’ he dives into themes of fatherhood and the Pacific Northwest, creating a colorful mix of red, yellow, and blue with his music. He swaps his usual bright guitar riffs for some dreamy synths and drum patterns that feel like summer. Tracks like ‘Again’ and ‘Forwards’ continue where ‘Cooks’ left off, blending lo-fi, funk, and R&B into a rich, slow groove. ‘Baby’ is all about closing the gaps in a relationship. On ‘Lemon,’ Woozy wrestles with his imperfections, but his music says otherwise. “My bed feels so empty, but it smells like you,” he sings, turning that heartache into a warm moment, “Girl, you know just take your time / You know I’ll never leave your side, no.”

Like Kevin Parker and Lindsey Jordan, Woozy's mix of angst and honesty is key to his art. He might be detached and "lonely down to the bone," but ‘Loveseat’ shows he's cool with letting experimental beats lead to poetic moments. In ‘Frida Kahlo,’ he transforms a ‘Pool’ riff and his struggle to ‘let go’ into a nod to surrealism and Peter Drake’s ‘Forever’. ‘Shit Don’t Change’ is a rainy day psych track inspired by Hayao Miyazaki and the need to ‘stay in my zone’. ‘Houston’ smoothly shifts into a lounge groove, channeling more ‘Currents’ than ‘Congratulations’, while ‘Big Fish’ and ‘Little Things’ bring a prog rock feel with hints of Cream and Caravan. ‘Shotput’ is a straight-up love song that amps up UMO’s ‘Blue Record’ vibes, showing how a heavy heart can still melt.

‘Loveseat’ has this timeless feel that’s hard to beat, thanks to Woozy’s ability to stir up all kinds of emotions with his psychedelic pop. ‘Run It Back,’ written just two weeks before release, is one of his catchiest tracks yet, with bright guitars and playful lyrics about being close to someone. Then there’s ‘Rid Of Me,’ a piano-driven song with ‘60s art rock vibes, where Woozy sings about missing not one but two people: “I’m so sick of being used to leaving my heart behind / Well, I love you still / Through it all.” It’s a bittersweet reminder of how love can be both understanding and painful, capturing an artist who’s not afraid to wear his heart on his sleeve.

STILL WOOZY - LOVESEAT

RATING - 8.6/10

FAVORITE TRACKS - Again, Lemon

GENRE - Alt/Indie