Hailing from Washington D.C., Too Free (Awad Bilal, Carson Cox, and Don Godwin) got together to make a record that blended multiple genres (R&B, electro, house, synthwave) and to get people to move and love themselves and each other. They also decided to force nothing about the album. The record, like their friendship and collaboration, would naturally emerge and be a full team effort. The result, Love in High Demand, sounds like they’ve been making albums for years instead of it being a debut.
Opening track “Gold” blends Tears for Fears synths with nearly industrial / goth bass and beats while Bilal sings to his crush that he could be his one and only if his lover would accept not only Bilal but his own true nature. “Elastic” has Bilal putting his foot down, saying, “Boy, I’m not a clown.” and declaring he won’t wait all night (let alone his whole life) for his lover to get his head straight. Cox and Godwin’s beats on it are sharp as tacks, and the guest guitar of G.L. Jaguar of Priests is a nice touch.
“Touch Upon Touch” is a sultry track with Bilal’s vocals weaving a sexy tale as his bandmates almost recreate an Art of Noise sound. The beats on “ATM” are nothing short of outstanding. Bilal’s vocals almost sound like they’ve wandered in from another song, and it works. It works very well, making you want to dance and yet stand still at the same time so you can just absorb the whole thing. “X2” races with near-punk speed and layers Bilal’s vocals over each other to point where you’re not sure which set of lyrics is the lead one. It’s a cool effect.
His vocals on “The Void” echo back and forth with gospel-style passion and trip-hop styling before the album moves onto the longest track on the album, “Breathing Underwater” (at just over five minutes). Godwin’s simple, groovy bass line roots the song and the electro beats and Bilal’s sampled breathy sighs provide the rest of the rhythm. Bilal sings about touching “all the right stuff” and letting himself drown in ecstasy.
On “Wanna Let Me Know,” Bilal delivers a smoky performance as he encourages his lover that he’s ready to his next Big Thing. It’s a short R&B / synth appetizer for the closer, “No Fun” – which is actually a lot of fun. “…change your life, make up your mind,” Bilal sings. His lyrics and Cox and Godwin’s make-out dance music beats encourage all of us to “go for broke” and pursue the love we want and deserve. You can’t ask for a much better message to go out on than that.
Love is indeed in high demand nowadays. Too Free’s debut album not only acknowledges this, but gives us the (loving) shove we need to go after it – on the dance floor, across the street, through a webcam, or anywhere else.
Keep your mind open.
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