It’s hard to go wrong with pizza at a party, or a record featuring a 4-chord pop progression. On Life in Frames, Chokamkuru Langneh walks us through a nostalgic journey, with each track reviewing a different phase of life – childhood, maturity, chasing dreams, growing wiser, and falling in love.
Much like a background score you’d hear in a cafe around the corner, ‘You Wouldn’t Know’ sets off the album with an overall jovial tone, a sonic venture all too familiar to the world of overused pop progressions. Heavily reminiscent of Maroon 5’s drift, the starting track kicks off with Chokamkuru’s indelible crooning, only to droop into a staccato, suspenseful drum beat that gives the song the much-needed shift in character. What it captures perfectly is a mood that will make you want to fall in love with someone you don’t know – “It’s a special one, this song is about love, so much love”, says the artist. Only to someone who hasn’t had enough of that bittersweet nostalgic feeling, is ‘Good Old Days’ a welcome extension, for it quite literally sticks out the same progression.
As something that catches you off guard and makes you smile, ‘A Head Stacked With Dreams’ does a decent job, switching tongues thrice over the course of a single tune, a fresh tint. Filled with hope and gratitude, the song is about growing older and wiser and loving your parents, but at the same time, is left open to interpretation. Musically, it’s drenched in hues of alt-rock and openly draws inspiration from Coldplay (in the name, too!). While the general tonality is predictable, the songs promise clarity when it comes to flow.
Each track stands as an evocative letter to the masses, sung with an honest gesture. In this regard, ‘Superheroes’ stands out, urging the listener to cave into their childhood fantasies and dare to dream; ‘I wanna fly / Free as a bird / Saving the planet / Saving the day / Like superheroes’. With refreshing traces of Japanese Rock (J-rock) and alt in its course, this one will have you want to get off the chair and groove.
“The world isn’t the same anymore, it’s a world full of lies and hatred. All of us at one point in life would talk about this, most likely when things aren’t going right. We all look for hope in a world full of lies and hatred. That’s the track ‘Hope’ for you”, concludes Chokamkuru about the last new track on the record. ‘Hope’ offers minimal instrumental arrangement with only a guitar and a synth, a trait seen in Ed Sheeran’s acoustic works. ‘Life in Frames’ plays it safe and within the lines, and leaves a familiar, sugary aftertaste. Brimming with cheery hues, it’s comfort food for those hungry for an easy listen.
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