Albums: Lava La Rue’s Starface

Lava La Rue’s Starface

A Star Journey Begins…; Better (ft. Cuco); Manifestation Manifesto; Push N Shuv; STARFACE’s Descent (ft. Tendai); Aerial Head ; Poison Cookie (ft. AUDREY NUNA); Friendship’s Death (1987); FLUORESCENT / Neyond Space (ft. NiNE8 & Feux); INTERPLANETARY HOPPIN (ft. So!YoON!); LOVEBITES; CHANGE; Humanity; Second Hand Sadness (ft. yunè Pinku); Shell of You; Sandown Beach; Celestial Desinty (ft. bb sway)

Label: Dirty Hit

Concept albums are either massive success stories or complete disasters. On paper, the idea of a 17-track album revolving around the experiences of a queer alien who comes to planet Earth is intriguing. In the wrong hands, it could turn into a bad secondary school project; in the right hands, it could be transformed into a stunning collection that changes perceptions and challenges thought processes. Lava La Rue’s Starface takes that concept, but does it deliver?

The huge risk Lava La Rue takes on this debut album pays off. While the stories may be otherworldly, they are also distinctly human and often reflective. Sonically, the eclectic nature of the 17 albums could be the work of an artist struggling to find their sound, but in Lava La Rue's hands, it is clear that this is an artist who knows who they are and is happy to show off all aspects of their artistry rather than confine themselves to a genre on a debut release.

Although the record is packed to the brim with stunning collaborators, it never loses sight of the star turn—Lava La Rue. Confident, accomplished, and really cool, Lava is fresh, free, and truly inspirational.

While there are naturally some highs over the course of 17 songs—the sprechgesang retro vibes of Manifestation Manifesto and heartfelt Poison Cookie—Starface is an album that never disappoints.