Valley’s New Album ‘Lost In Translation’ Is A Collage of Indie Summer Hits
Devin Dunlap
Valley is a Canadian alt-pop band featuring lead singer Rob Laska, bassist Alex Dimauro, guitarist Mickey Brandolino, and drummer Karah James. Following hits like “There’s Still a Light in the House” and “Like 1999,” the group released their sophomore album, Lost in Translation. The 15-track record has a wide range, from slower-tempo songs injected with heavy emotion to joyful upbeat tracks for the summer.
Photo by Becca Hammel
The title track, “Lost in Translation” is what Valley does best. Honest lyrics put to an intense buildup of music, bouncing between a simple acoustic guitar, piano, and the energetic release of the electric guitar. Originally inspired by the relationship between Otis and Maeve from the Netflix hit series Sex Education. The track is reminiscent of old Valley tunes but with an evolved sense of alt-pop excellence.
As the 2023 summer begins, Valley offers a bop for fans to jam to with “Have a Good Summer Without Me.” Between the specific imagery of the red balloon, the undeniably catchy chorus, and the specificity of the bitterly sad lyrics, this is an unforgettable part of the album. This alt-pop banger is the sad girl anthem for singles to scream on a hot summer night.
A standout song on the project, “Evenings and Weekends” opens with a memorable guitar riff that has a slightly darker flare to it. James said of the track, “We started with a tempo like “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!” and went for the same dark 70’s pop vibe that song has.” Mirroring that dark musical tone, the lyrics describe the heartbreaking feeling of loving someone who only loves you when it’s convenient for them.
Closing the album out is “Fishbowl,” a track with an anthemic chorus and lyrics that summarize the band’s journey on the album. The peaceful string outro cements the experience of listening to the project as a whole. The intoxicating track taps into the band’s primary drive as Brandolino notes how “Life can feel like you’re living in a fishbowl - watching it pass you by as one big blur. Music always breaks us out.” “Fishbowl” is the perfect finish to a lyrically introspective and musically expansive album for Valley.
Lost in Translation is the band’s first album release since their 2019 debut MAYBE which they self-wrote, produced, and released. Their self-referential lyrics and unique indie-alt-pop sound have earned them two JUNO Award nominations and a gold-certified single. The Canadian band has opened for acts such as Lennon Stella and The Band Camino before headlining their very own North American tour earlier this year. Later this summer, Valley is heading out to Southeast Asia and Australia before joining Dermot Kennedy on his arena tour.
Listen to Lost In Translation here!