Living Space – 1:1000 (Single Review)

Living Space is a dynamic musical collective founded several years ago and based in the US, Mountain View, California. The band has been at it for a while and has already released three self-produced full-length albums, more or less oriented toward the folk and rock fields.

With current releases, the spotlight has focused on one of the founding members of Living Space, Ronnie Cato, who stands as a crucial element in the group’s development. Over the last few years, he has been constantly uploading music to SoundCloud and Spotify and is currently on track to share a new upcoming album in 2024. His 2024 releases are set to captivate both fans and newcomers, with the collective embracing growth and musical exploration, inviting listeners on their artistic journey.

This is not my first time reviewing material from Living Space. Last month, Music Review World highlighted their fusion of groove-infused folk rock in “Traces of You.” With a previously quite gloomy and agonizing atmosphere, I felt as if the vocal imbalance played a notable role in the song’s composition. However, in this review, we step away from the folk side of Living Space, diving into something more experimental with tones inspired by EDM.

In “1:1000,” the band deviates from their usual folk style, taking on a more dynamic and sonic progression. This track is truly a big improvement from the previous folk-inspired “Traces of You.” With much catchier and upbeat dynamics, the track ventures into a psychedelic and futuristic journey.

As I mentioned in the previous article, I feel this direction for the band is the right step, making them look much more distinctive compared to others. The production on this track is certainly the sweetest and most vibrant aspect of the record. With a hint of experimental transitions and a smooth beat switch, Living Space perfectly demonstrates their ability to create an exciting sonic journey.

“1:1000” sets the stage for the band’s future improvement, progression, and potential new evolutions. Do I feel as if this track is a huge improvement from “Traces of You”? Yes, I certainly do, as the funkiness and grooviness of this track feel much more memorable in comparison to previous efforts.

However, this track is not without flaws. While we do get a more progressive and funky sound, the aesthetic of the vocal accompaniment retains the gruesome and melancholic atmosphere from “Traces of You,” which doesn’t seem to align with the track’s intention.

While sounding quite explorative and adding another layer of light, the track’s sonic elements don’t fully align with the heart-wrenching vocal style and catchy beat—it all feels rather all over the place. I see the intention that Living Space was trying to achieve here by aiming for a dynamic, cinematic, and emotional experience. However, it doesn’t seem to work out in the best manner for this type of execution.

Overall Score/Mediocre. This track is a huge step toward a more optimal and progressive path for the band, but it still lacks cohesiveness and consistency. On “1:1000,” the sonic odyssey is not able to fully compensate for the upsetting vocal delivery.

(We rank singles, EPs, and albums on a scale of Poor, Mediocre, Good, Excellent, and Outstanding.)

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