Hugh has been one of London’s jewels of a band for the past few years now. The foursome comprised of Joshua Idehen, Izzy Brooks, Andy Highmore and Tino Kolarides have been creating their own lane in an organic manner, building up a solid following extending past the UK shores. The group’s 2014 debut EP I Can’t Figure You Out was a lavish indication on what the band had up their sleeves, concocting beautiful rhythms teetering between atmospheric electronica, soul and pop as the double vocals of Idehen and Brooks have been a charming marriage from the inception. Following up with their 2015 single ‘Learn To Fall’ and the powerful track ‘Direction’, the build-up has led to Hugh’s 2017 debut LP Love, Hugh, and what an offering it is.
Love, Hugh is an eleven song gumbo of the serene hybrid of styles that the group has been fostering for the past three years or more. Beginning with lush song ‘This Is How It Starts’, the melodic cut that many fans are already familiar with, ‘One Of These Days’ finds the collective incorporating Hip-Hop spices into their recipe. Layered with spacey synths, a rubber bass line and head-nodding drum patterns, the feel-good presentation is rapidly followed by ‘Go’ which is a deliverance of a more British driven sound, fusing bass and club together with their signature surreal tones. ‘Protect My Heart’ jumps with a chilled, mid-tempo bounce whilst ‘I Don’t Like You’ slows things down to ballad territory, as full and rich production serves as an ethereal soundscape. Whilst songs like ‘Take It Slow’ and ‘In And Out Of Love’ clearly display the r&b influence on the band, ‘Look Back In Laughter’ is Hugh at their finest, showcasing their brilliance at finely weaving together various genres into one blissful sound that they can call their own. ‘Trouble’ rounds out the LP as slow, echoing drums sway underneath bluesy meets alt guitar licks, with Joshua Idehen and Izzy Brooks flowing in such unison that they seem inseparable.
Love, Hugh, to put it simple, is a delightful and graceful recording that provides a warming ray of light during these more chaotic times. If anything, the album serves as a reminder of the true beauty that still exists in love, with Hugh being the providers of the soundtrack to the experience.
Hugh’s Love, Hugh is out now.