Hallucinating Love

Waiting for this record felt like waiting for something you already knew would matter. It had been six and a half years since Maribou State released Kingdoms in Colour, a record that lived on heavy rotation and comfortably landed among the best of its year. Expectations were high — and deservedly so.

What makes Maribou State so compelling is their instinctive balance between electronic textures and organic instrumentation. Their productions glide rather than push, weaving shimmering synths with tactile guitar motifs, delicate string arrangements and nuanced percussion. The result is music that feels fluid and sunlit, moving forward with ease and quiet confidence.

This new chapter feels subtly expanded. The grooves are more pronounced, occasionally brushing up against the kind of buoyant, danceable energy associated with Jungle. “Otherside” is a perfect example, elevated by Holly Walker’s mesmerising vocal presence, while “Dance on the World” gains depth and texture from North Downs’ soulful, smoky delivery.

At the same time, the emotional core that defines Maribou State remains intact. The album is rich with melody and fine detail, particularly in the guitar work — still one of their most distinctive signatures. “Bloom” stands out for the way its immersive soundscape intertwines with Gaidaa’s vocals, creating something quietly breathtaking. “Eko’s” moves in a more hypnotic direction, driven by a steady forward pulse that makes it endlessly replayable.

Taken as a whole, the album feels like a natural progression rather than a departure — deeper, more textured, yet unmistakably theirs. It is immersive, uplifting and emotionally resonant in equal measure. And if this is the result of patience, the wait has been more than worthwhile.