If this title were literal, then one would glow. With radiance in abundance, a deep warmth, a crooning sway, Warpaint resonate sensuality with this casually persuading swoon of blissful songs. Its ten cuts ooze with luscious ease as dreamy aesthetics drift by. Captive to Emily Kokal's gentle endearing voice, she rides the soulful breeze her compassionate presence creates. This performance makes the record whole. For all the gorgeous instrumentation, vibeing in the lofty heat of an easy chemistry. She steps boldly into each song with a tender soul, soft in tone yet powerfully charming.
Once labeled as a Post-Punk band, its only the forward baselines, punching high notes on the fretboard that resemble the umbrella sound. With calming beats, loose grooves and shuffling hi-hat rattles, a subtle percussive performance houses all other instruments from a quiet yet foundational roll. The acoustic guitars, in dense washes of reverberation, gel with keys and electronics. Swept up in a swelling production, the atmosphere of each song punctuates a soulful, dreamy mood with stunning ease. Its tone is part Ethereal, part Dream Pop with a light touch of Shoegaze indulgence.
Radiate Like This is far from perfect however. Navigating all ebbs and flows, frequent detours into halve measures of the magic occur. Often when Kokal is withdrawn the spark is dulled. Despite this, the allure is ever present. A soothing persuasion pulls one in as simple melodic loops revel in the dense ambience they sink through with echos and reverb effects dialed to perfection. The aesthetics and textures are stunningly captured by the group who self produced the record. Its a triumph, as the best cuts, again championed by Kokal, hit the sweetest groove after every repetition.
Rating: 8/10