3 (The Purple Album)

全世界を感動で包み込んだ、亡き父へ向けた大ヒット・シングル「セブン・イヤーズ」から2年――時は経ち、息子は今父となり、新たな愛を知る。娘に贈る「ラヴ・サムワン」をフィーチャーした待望の最新作『3(THE PURPLE ALBUM)』がCDに続きアナログLPでも発売!

On the follow-up to their chart-topping, multi-platinum 2015 breakthrough, Danish soul-pop outfit Lukas Graham mellow out but remain as earnest as ever. Their aptly titled third full-length, 3 finds the Lukas Forchhammer-fronted trio processing the life changes that inevitably come when global stardom starts knocking. Weary reflections from the road, laments and regrets about lost time and missed opportunities, and melodramatic odes to loved ones -- such as "Promise" -- are buffered with gospel heft and Forchhammer's soul-indebted vocals. The saccharine "Lullaby" and "Love Someone" mirror the sentimental nature of their big hit, "7 Years," the latter track ably echoing Ed Sheeran and Jamie Lawson. The sappy "You're Not the Only One (Redemption Song)" sounds like the Script and late-era Keane joined forces, while the sole groover on 3, "Unhappy," resurrects the pre-pop sounds of early Maroon 5. Fans of Forchhammer's simple and unassuming innocence should enjoy these additional entries into the group's heartfelt oeuvre, from the dramatic opener "Not a Damn Thing Changed" to the choir-backed "Say Yes (Church Ballad)." ~ Neil Z. Yeung

フロントマンのルーカスが亡き父への思いを綴った2015年のブレイク作に対し、こちらは彼の愛娘に宛てた作品ということでジョイフルな内容かと予想するも、またまたメランコリックな曲が多め。親としての責任感からくる戸惑いを、ゴスペリッシュなコーラスや優しいピアノの調べが包み込みます。ワンリパブリックにも通じるちょっぴり頼りない歌世界はリアリティーたっぷりで、多くのパパとママから共感を呼ぶはず。
bounce (C)山西絵美