When artists hibernate in the woodshed, by choice or otherwise, hype can die down just as easily as drawn-out anticipation can be sustained. It was a case of the latter for Maribou State. The electronic duo – comprising Chris Davids and Liam Ivory, who both hail from Hertfordshire – have shifted nearly 30,000 tickets in London alone for their first UK headline tour in six years, which will conclude with a sensational three-night residency at Alexandra Palace, marking their biggest headline shows to date.
In the gap between 2018’s ‘Kingdoms In Colour’ and this third album ‘Hallucinating Love’, their endearing fanbase appears to have subtly expanded, as calming lo-fi pop hits like ‘Steal’ and ‘Vale’ have pierced into a new generation. Having established a distinct, soul-tinged approach to dance music that centres around soothing melodies, cute guitar lines and recurring guest vocalists, the global mark they’ve already made is assuredly significant – exemplified by their place on the 2025 Coachella line-up poster right alongside A.G. Cook.
However, the road to their comeback has been filled with obstacles. In 2022, Davids was diagnosed with a rare brain condition called Chiari malformation, which he revealed last year, that impacted productivity in the studio (he’s since successfully undergone surgery). ‘Hallucinating Love’ was born out of these dark, anxiety-ridden periods, looking towards the future with hope.
The momentum of ‘Otherside’ is the album’s guiding light, its contagious bassline stealing the show. Reuniting with longtime collaborator Holly Walker, it’s a triumph in the face of adversity, exemplified by the togetherness of the unifying gang vocals in the bridge: “I feel / I’m getting stronger by now.” The hook-laden ‘Dance On The World’ is as irresistible as its title suggests, carrying a similar summery fragrance to Jungle’s 2021 album ‘Loving In Stereo.’
There’s an added grandeur throughout ‘Hallucinating Love’ that will surely add a touch of class and showmanship to Maribou State’s ever-expansive live show. The string section that defines ‘Peace Talk’ is perhaps the clearest representation of this, while that same neoclassical influence seeps into the multi-faceted ‘Blackoak’ too. The latter feels like a triangular love letter between Davids, Ivory and their fans, with its repeated affirmations of “And if your world was breaking / I’d do that for you.”
While the overarching sound feels like a safe but natural step forward from its predecessor, ‘Hallucinating Love’ shines in its short-lived instrumental breaks, be it the spiritual piano and cello in ‘Passing Clouds’ or the John Frusciante-esque guitar solo in closer ‘Rolling Stone’. Already certified masters of their craft, ‘Hallucinating Love’ cherry-picks fresh blooms and euphoric alt-pop melodies to enhance what we already know and love about Maribou State.
Details
- Release date: January 31, 2025
- Record label: Ninja Tune