“There are all sorts of people in Hollywood who immediately made it less and less possible to feel bad for myself. I started to feel the joy of humility and gratitude just to be who I am” - this sentiment fueled Love Is Real, John Maus’ second album for London-based Upset The Rhythm. He went into the record with a provision he didn’t have during the making of his first album: the knowledge that the songs would indeed eventually be heard. And without that aforementioned humility and gratitude, you can imagine Maus’ head just totally exploding under the pressure. The songs here are tighter, the production values are higher, and there are gleaming moments that foreshadow the pop purity of Pitiless Censors; that certain quality Maus himself has described as the “take your shoes off and dance around in your socks to it” element, evident on the incredible catchy “Pure Rockets,” MDMA-induced baroque dance party “My Whole World’s Coming Apart” or the haunting “Don’t Worship The Devil.” Not to mention the Ian Curtis-on-zoloft vibes of “Do Your Best,” or the anthemic “Rights For Gays” (oh yeah), two of the album’s most memorable tunes. But spend some time with the weirder tracks too: “Green Bouzard,” “Tenebrae,” “Times Is Weird,” the Tom Clancy-esque “Navy Seals.” This is John Maus at his most haunted, medieval, Castlevania-sounding. You don’t have to run anymore. Recommended! 

• 180g vinyl pressing
• poly-lined inner sleeve
• digital download included
• limited edition
• music label: Ribbon Music 2018

reviewed by yung pilot astray 07/2018