8/10
There’s a rare kind of alchemy that happens when musicians stop trying to control every moment. When they let curiosity, intuition, and shared laughter shape the sound. LOBE’s debut album 'was that on purpose?' captures that feeling in full technicolour; delivering a living, breathing conversation between six artists who clearly trust each other enough to take risks and make mistakes that turn into magic.
Emerging from the Bay Area’s ever-curious music scene, LOBE weave together the sophistication of contemporary jazz with the playfulness of alt-folk, the shimmer of pop nostalgia, and even the pixelated pulse of early video game soundtracks. It’s a sound rooted in friendship and experimentation, yet it somehow lands with stunning precision.
The record opens with 'Sucker Punch', a whirl of rhythm and controlled chaos that sets the tone for what follows. From there, 'Rain Pause (Rain Again)' unfurls like a cinematic daydream, led by Sam Silverstein’s expressive violin, while 'imperfect misdemeanor' explodes into what can only be described as jazz’s answer to a boss-level battle theme.
But LOBE’s genius lies in how they balance exuberance with tenderness. 'Hummingbird Dances' glows with pastoral warmth; 'moon jelly' drifts weightlessly in a haze of wonder; 'parhelion and 'set time' blur the line between structured composition and unrestrained play. Even their bold reinterpretation of 'Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da' feels like a time-traveling wink that is part homage, part reinvention.
Across nine tracks, LOBE are playing in every sense of the word. Their debut is a joyful reminder that imperfection is where the real beauty hides. Whether intentional or accidental, 'was that on purpose?' is a masterpiece of collective spontaneity, and proof that when music is born from trust and friendship, every note feels meant to be.
