One of my favourite things each year is hearing debut albums. There is just something so exciting about hearing what up-and-coming artists and bands have to offer. For example, last year, Prelude To Ecstasy, the debut album from The Last Dinner Party, completely blew me away and, in my opinion, was the best record from 2024. Although it does not top that album, Louder, Please is a remarkable debut album from Rose Gray, and one of the biggest takeaways from Gray’s debut is how compellingly contagious the choruses are.
‘Damn’ sets the stage high. It is an incredible way to start the album, with notable highlights being the dazzling EDM production, intense beat drops, and hypnotic vocals. When a record starts off super strong, there is sometimes a worry that other tracks will not live up to it, but Louder, Please does not fall victim to that. This release has many gems, some of which even top the opener.
Unlike other electropop or dance music artists, Gray’s Louder, Please is not generic, and does not follow the same old boring formula. Too many of those electronic pop or club songs sound too similar and become almost impossible to differentiate between one another. This is not the case for Louder, Please. Sure, it might not be revolutionary or groundbreaking, but it is nice to see Gray experiment with sound and utilise fascinating production and instrumentation choices. The best example is ‘Hackney Wick’, which features confessional spoken-word vocals that feel diaristic, intriguingly captivating, with ambitious production and an ambient and somewhat gritty mixture of electronica and industrial. It kind of feels like Kate Nash meets Delerium. The replay value on it is insane and gets better and better on relistens. There is something so endearing about how creative the track is. ‘Hackney Wick’ is magnificent and easily the best song from the album.
If you are looking for some new party anthems to add to your playlist, Louder, Please has you covered. ‘Free’ and ‘Party People’ are infectious certified bangers that will undoubtedly raise the roof at clubs. Big booming beats, intoxicating energy, and Gray’s passionate vocals make ‘Free’ an electric time. Alternatively, ‘Party People’ is as anthemic as they come and features cinematic and ethereal synths. Both tracks are loads of fun and joyously catchy with earworm choruses. Chances are listeners will be head-bopping and singing along to these two tunes. ‘Just Two’ is another good song, with the main highlights being the stunning bridge and fantastic chorus. Again, Gray’s vocals are sensational here too. Throughout this record, time and time again, Gray’s commanding and charming vocals grab the listener’s attention and never let go.
However, sometimes, certain tracks end up not reaching their full potential. One such example of this is ‘Wet & Wild’. It has its moments, like the incredible opening and the mesmerising piano riff, that is an absolute delight, but as a whole, the song is a tad disappointing. It comes nowhere close to the exhilarating excitement of ‘Free’ or ‘Party People’, which is rather unfortunate because it had the potential to be just as amazing. It is not a bad song by any means. I just wish I enjoyed it more than I did. Similarly, ‘First’ and ‘Tectonic’ turn out to be quite boring and are unable to maintain the same spark or sense of adventure that a song like ‘Hackney Wick’ does.
Overall, Rose Gray’s Louder, Please is a must-listen for those looking for new hits to dance the night away or blast at full volume at a party.
