‘Heaven 2’ isn’t just another indie record; it’s a careful cartography of a life in motion. Lillie West, the force behind Lala Lala, channels restless curiosity into an album that moves constantly yet finds moments of quiet reflection. ‘Heaven 2’ is Lillie West’s boldest artistic pivot yet: a record born from motion and resolution, from wandering and arrival. Across ten tracks, she explores the tension between escape and presence, uncertainty and acceptance, crafting songs that are as intellectually stimulating as they are emotionally resonant.
The album opens with “Car Anymore,” a brisk, kinetic track that immediately establishes the record’s emotional and sonic palette. With jagged rhythms and occasional bursts of saxophone, the song evokes the unease of perpetual motion; the feeling of traveling not just through space, but through internal terrain. It sets the stage for an album concerned as much with inner landscapes as with musical ones.
“Even Mountains Erode” follows, a contemplative transition in the first half of the album. Built on a gentle, almost hypnotic rhythm and anchored by West’s warm, intimate vocals, the song meditates on impermanence and the slow erosion of what we believe to be solid and immovable. It’s reflective, almost philosophical, offering a quiet gravity that contrasts with the restless energy of the opener.
Mid-album tracks like “Arrow” and “Tricks” explore urgency, desire, and self-questioning. Arrow propels forward with an electric energy that feels like both hope and pursuit, while “Tricks” delivers sharper, more pointed bursts of emotion, like rapid internal interrogations set to music. These tracks embody the tension between wanting to move and needing to pause, highlighting the album’s constant negotiation of speed and stillness.
At the emotional center is the title track, “Heaven2.” Here, West constructs a sweeping soundscape that shifts from contemplative darkness to an expansive catharsis. Synthesizer swells, layered percussion, and her ethereal vocals coalesce into a track that feels both grand and intimate, the musical embodiment of reflection and release. It’s the point in the album where the listener is invited to experience both intensity and calm simultaneously.
The closing tracks, “This City” and “Wyoming Dirt,” offer a sense of return. “This City” balances reflection with quiet acceptance, capturing the tension between familiarity and change. “Wyoming Dirt” grounds the listener with its earthy, tactile sound, providing a gentle resolution after the album’s emotional and sonic explorations. These tracks suggest that the journey the album undertakes is not about escape, but about recognition, of self, of place, and of perspective.
What makes ‘Heaven 2’ compelling is its duality: it is both kinetic and contemplative, restless and reflective. West’s experiences traveling, creating, and observing the world translate into songs that are emotionally vivid and intellectually rich. This is an album that asks questions rather than delivering answers, encouraging the listener to sit with uncertainty, impermanence, and the strange beauty of movement.
Compared to her earlier work, this latest effort represents a maturation of West’s artistic vision. It retains the restless energy and emotional rawness of her previous records while introducing a new sense of clarity and confidence. The album acknowledges the chaos of life without being overwhelmed by it, finding meaning in both motion and stillness.
‘Heaven 2’ is a thoughtful, emotionally resonant album that transcends indie rock conventions. Lala Lala delivers an intricate, intelligent record that balances kinetic energy with contemplative depth, a work that rewards both careful listening and emotional immersion. It is a bold statement of artistic growth and a testament to the power of music to explore the human condition.
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