When British alt-pop band The 1975 came into prominence with the release of their self-titled debut album, their name became synonymous with teenage hipsters across the globe. After two years of touring and tracking their pop rock beats across the world, the band promised a reinvention in the wake of their second album – and thus ‘I like it when you sleep for you are so beautiful yet so unaware of it’ was born. Though the title may be a mouthful, its poetic vibe manages to emulate throughout the entity record.
‘I like it when you sleep…’ is the pop-rock bliss that the music community has been waiting to hear – it’s kind of like the Goldilocks of the genre; not too pop, not too rock. Just enough to appreciate both pop hooks and guitar riffs on every track – there’s something to dance to, something to cry to and something to scream at the top of your lungs at night as you travel down the city highway passing neon signs (at least, that’s the kind of feeling I would want to experience listening to The 1975).
My favourite track on the record is the previously released single, “The Sound”. Seeing this track played live at the band’s Festival Hall concert earlier allowed me to go into that indescribable trance as everyone jumped in synced motion, lights flashed as lead guitarist Adam Hann drew out a wonderful solo – something that I get to relive and feel every time I listen to track.
As always, The 1975 are as good songwriters as they are musicians. The band brings a refreshing outlook on love and heartbreak, particularly on the track “Somebody Else”, where lead singer Matty Healy sombrely sings, ‘I don’t want your body / But I hate to think about you with somebody else / Our love has gone cold / You’re intertwining your soul with somebody else’.
But it’s not the songs about lost girlfriends that really tug at the heartstrings – the track “Nana” will definitely require tissues; as you can guess from the title, this song might hit home for a lot of listeners.
The 1975 have reinvented their image to prove to the world they’re not that hipster try-hard boyband many people pin them to be. They’re purely in it for the music and small, intricate details within the record support this – there’s an obvious allusion to past tracks, asserting the band are here to continue a story.
Constant flashbacks to musicianship of past bands will somehow bring feelings of both nostalgia and the familiar thrill when listening new music – proving that The 1975 aren’t just your average teenage poster band.
Review Score: 9.4 out of 10. 
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I like it when you sleep for you are so beautiful yet so unaware of it is out now!
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