If you listened to Kevin Abstract’s most recent album, Blush, then you’ll already be familiar with Love Spells, who is featured heavily throughout the record. At just 21-years-old, Sir Taegen Harris went from living on the streets of Houston to creating an entire world on his debut album, LOVE IS THE LAW. Inspired by Numbers, a legendary dance club in his hometown, and the nights he spent dancing beneath its disco ball in a space defined by acceptance and community, Harris also draws from the new wave music of the ’70s and ’80s and classic dance films like Dirty Dancing and Footloose. The result is an undeniable breakout: twelve tracks where love is truly at the heart of it.
The album opens with “Don’t Touch,” a song as gentle as its title suggests. Love Spells’ vocals are breathy in an ethereal, deeply soothing way, and the opening track tantalizes the listener with what’s to come. The first single, “Crutch,” follows. While maintaining that same sweet romanticism, it invites you to sway along and get lost in the question the lyrics pose: “How does it feel?” “Keep It to Yourself,” the second single, almost feels like a response. It has more of a funky feel that Blood Orange fans will love and resolves with, “I don’t want anyone to question us.” It’s a very sexy song, and that feeling continues into the next track, “Kiss Me Slow This Time,” which immediately made me picture a slow, intimate love scene in a movie, I won’t lie. It just evokes that breathy sort of feeling you get during a really good makeout sesh.
“Heart for Eyes” picks up the pace, and its delightful piano melody offers advice to those who lead with love: “Be careful who you give your time.” I really heard that. The next song, “Stupid,” leans more into an ’80s vibe, still swoony, remarking, “Baby, I know you like ’em stupid.” By the time the title track, “LOVE IS THE LAW,” comes around, I am almost blushing. With a folksy country intro, it warns the singer’s lover, “Don’t go treating me bad,” because then they would be “breaking the law,” and in this case, love is the law. You see?
“Perfect Man” continues that feeling but picks up the pace. The dancey beat is great for a car ride or a living room solo dance session. “Devour Me” is probably the most melancholy moment on the album, and I really felt the weight and drama of its title. Pianos and strings are brought back once more on “I’ve Tried,” making it a very dreamy moment. There is some spoken word at the end, and with its deadpan delivery, it felt almost spooky.
The penultimate track, “Until We Get It Right,” is another declaration of unwavering love. It was at this moment that I recalled the vocal quality of Maria Zardoya of The Marías and thought fans of the band would enjoy this album because of its new wave qualities. The track really embodies devotion: it almost feels like you can hear someone taking deep breaths in the background. The final track, and the final single, is “Maybe I Still Love You.” It’s probably the most romantic track, talking about “fighting with feelings they can’t ignore,” Harris remarks. He continues, “You have to believe in love for love to be seen.”
In a way, I feel changed after listening to the album and reading those words. I feel like I got completely submerged in this warm bath of an album, and now I’m wrapped in a soft blanket where my faith in love is renewed. If that’s not a glowing review, I don’t know what is. Love Spells is embarking on a headlining tour following his performance at Lollapalooza. If I were you, I’d check him out if he’s coming to your city.
LOVE IS THE LAW is out now.
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