(Credits: Far Out / Emily Cross)

THE SKINNY: Loma is ready for rebirth. How Will I Live Without A Body? – a title rather appropriately suggested by Laurie Anderson’s AI – wasn’t just the perfect stage for a much-needed reunion; it also took the band’s haunted inclinations to a whole new level, not just in Emily Cross’ intricate crooning but in terms of the entire setting. After all, the album was recorded in a coffin-maker’s workshop.

In her efforts to exhume another project and deliver a worthy follow-up to 2020’s Don’t Shy Away, a project urged by Brian Eno, Cross transformed the workshop into a recording studio, creating a vocal booth using a coffin woven from willow branches. Somehow, however, such a macabre marker of the end of life ended up being the ideal context for the band’s resuscitation.

How Will I Live Without A Body? delivers on its promise to remind you of all the reasons this band deserves its place among other contemporaries. Its mild and slightly understated mellow arrangements infiltrate your stream with relaxation, completely guided by Cross’s endearing vocals. The only slip-up with a sound like this could be pinned on the listener; the music will resonate as long as the patience is there.

Despite the obvious musical adeptness at play here, without the right setting, mindset, and general approach to consuming such a delicately shaped album, certain parts could lose grip of those it attempts to captivate, its soft edges delightful only to those who are willing to embrace its consistent lack of weight. Still, there’s already a heady amount of dazzle there, enough to allow the shortcomings to dissolve into the background.

For fans of: Candles that crackle as they burn.

A concluding comment from a coffin-maker: “I guess death is the music of life, in some way…”

How Will I Live Without A Body? track-by-track:

Release date: June 28th | Producer: Loma | Label: Sub Pop

‘Please, Come In’: After you find yourself attempting to turn up the volume, unsure if you actually pressed play, ‘Please, Come In’ is a strong starter to an album brimming with promise. [3/5]

‘Arrhythmia’: Cross’ endearing vocals never fail to intrigue and endear in this gorgeous song that feels like taking a slow, paced walk just before the sun sets. [3/5]

‘Unbraiding’: Another delectable experience guided almost completely by Cross’ soft crooning. [3/5]

‘I Swallowed a Stone’: Undeniably an album highlight, ‘I Swallowed a Stone’ feels a little more heady in execution, with the additional piano elements and Cross’ unwavering vocal delivery providing a unique experience. [3.5/5]

‘How It Starts’: After a few listens, it becomes clear that this could, in fact, be the best song on the album. The way it builds and gets under your skin warrants repeated listens. [4/5]

‘Dark Trio’: Another slow build, ‘Dark Trio’ feels a little more hopeful and visceral, the perfect setup for the following track. [3/5]

‘A Steady Mind’: Another album highlight, ‘A Steady Mind’ is sure to quash all concerns as Cross narrates a story filled with wistful reflection. [3/5]

‘Pink Sky’: Something about the intro segment to ‘Pink Sky’ feels almost early 2000s pop-esque. However, the melody and additional rhythmic section feel like maybe it sits closer to the haunting implications within tracks like ‘Ghost Town’. [3/5]

‘Broken Doorbell’: If you’re not listening closely enough, you could almost miss this delicate tune, like soft whispers in the wind. [3/5]

‘Affinity’: A song which comprises echoey arrangements providing the perfect reminder of the context in which it was built, ‘Affinity’ shows off everything Loma have come to represent. [3.5/5]

‘Turnaround’: It feels entirely fitting to bring How Do I Live Without A Body? to a close with a pure, unfiltered demonstration of Cross’ vocal ability. [4/5]