What Is Love?
Clean Bandit · 2018
43 min · 12 tracks · electropop
A vibrant blend of catchy electropop melodies interwoven with orchestral elements and heartfelt lyrics that explore love's complexities.
Top tracks — play these first
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Symphony — This track encapsulates the album's emotional core, blending orchestral instrumentation with dance-pop elements and poignant lyrics about love and longing.
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Rockabye — As one of Clean Bandit's biggest hits, this track combines a powerful narrative about motherhood with infectious rhythms, highlighting the band's ability to blend storytelling with dance music.
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Solo — Featuring Anne-Marie, this song stands out for its catchy hook and relatable theme of independence amidst romantic complexity, showcasing the band's knack for crafting pop anthems.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album effectively combines orchestral and electronic elements, though its pacing and emotional shifts may affect overall cohesion.
What we noticed
- The album features a consistent use of orchestral strings layered over electronic beats, creating a unique sound that blends classical and pop elements.
- Several tracks employ a call-and-response vocal technique, enhancing the interaction between lead and backing vocals.
- The first half of the album maintains an upbeat tempo, while the latter half introduces slower ballads, shifting the emotional tone.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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6/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- infectious hooks for sing-alongs
- upbeat tracks for social gatherings
- catchy melodies for road trips
- feel-good energy for celebrations
Maybe skip if you
- slow, introspective listening sessions
- minimalist soundscapes and textures
Where this album fits
- Career context
- What Is Love? is Clean Bandit's third studio album, following their successful 2018 single Rockabye. The band was at a pivotal moment in their career, having established themselves as a leading act in the electropop scene with previous hits, and this album aimed to solidify their sound while exploring new lyrical themes about relationships.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Sigala· Marshmello· Zara Larsson
Moments worth listening for
Where the writing does something specific.
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Symphony
The bridge where the music swells dramatically before returning to a softer refrain reflects a deep yearning for connection.
This dynamic shift emphasizes the emotional stakes of the narrative, mirroring the highs and lows experienced in love.
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Symphony 3:33
- 2 Baby 3:41
- 3 Solo 3:42
- 4 Rockabye 4:11
- 5 Mama 3:09
- 6 Should've Known Better 3:35
- 7 Out at Night 3:54
- 8 Last Goodbye 3:19
- 9 We Were Just Kids 3:29
- 10 Nowhere 3:46
- 11 I Miss You 3:25
- 12 In Us I Believe 3:29
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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