7/10

On their second full-length 'Chili Island', Miami’s own Chili Guys lean into what they do best: delivering breezy, rhythm-driven escapism with a smile. Released just in time for high summer, this twelve-track collection is a testament to how joy, roots, and rhythm can ride the same wave.

At its heart, 'Chili Island' plays like a beach day that never ends. Opening with a playful warmth and stretching into layered grooves, the album builds on the foundation laid by their first record 'Love, Papa', trading lullabies for anthems without losing the tenderness. Where the debut explored themes of fatherhood and new beginnings, 'Chili Island' wades into the current of celebration, connection, and sunshine-fuelled spontaneity.

The latest single 'Listening to Reggae' pays tribute to the genre that binds the band together, while channelling its legacy through a laid-back lens. A gentle intro from bandleader Mike Halley’s son Indigo adds a dash of charm before the groove hits. Elsewhere, 'Beach in Miami' blends Latin rhythms with a genre-bending hook that feels as much dancefloor-ready as it is hammock-friendly. 'Summertime' rolls in with nostalgic sax lines and mellow energy that lands somewhere between a sunset cruise and a road trip with the windows down.

But what really makes 'Chili Island' resonate is its warmth. It’s an album made by friends, for friends. Whether you’re physically on a beach or just dreaming of one from your window, the record offers an escape hatch; full of soul, laughter, and the kind of grooves that blur the line between reggae, funk, surf-rock, and indie-pop.

This is music made to lift spirits without losing touch with the real. And on 'Chili Island', the invitation is clear: bring your people, bring your joy, and stay a while.