Looking For Space is the third studio album from New Zealand’s Mild Orange. While their previous albums introduced the band’s soft indie rock vibe and reflective way with words, this latest release elevates it to another level entirely. The band named themself after the colour of warmth and positivity, and though Looking For Space may break down dark times in mental health, it is calm and therapeutic with a delicately upbeat spin.
Coming in with dreamy guitar pop which continues to be prevalent throughout, the album surges upward with a certain power to lift the mood. We get the introspective side coming out, with connections to the listener being made through relatable themes of urging oneself to keep on going, making steps forward and venturing out of comfort zones. The smooth, chilled out energy of songs like ‘F.E.A.R’ takes away any sense of preachy ‘get up and to it’ attitude, instead offering a gentle nudge of ‘you know you have it in you’.
As much as it is about moving forward, it is about living in the moment, particularly in the dreamy soundscape and airy vocals in ‘The Time Of Our Lives’, a love song for a moment in time.Then the stunning ‘Aurora’, a cool and calm indie club song. It shreds into the bridge before slowing down to a sweet jam, all the while perfectly embodying the notion that “you can’t live your life again” – so make the most of it now, and live it to the full.
We can’t talk about Looking For Space without talking about ‘This Kinda Day’. It comes in a little darker and guitar driven, the bass line setting the tone, while the music sings along the top. There is a strong sense of imagery in this track; “like an ocean so often in change” linking back to opening track ‘Colourise’ and “trust the waves”. It is very much to go with the flow and trust the nature of life, but also to “keep your eye on the horizon”, a reminder to keep focus. This track is possibly the album’s strongest therapeutic point in its general calming nature. Like a tender look from a friend who can sense something is wrong and is letting you know in their own way that everything will be okay.
‘What’s Your Fire’ is another highlight, pushing someone to look inward and find themselves; what makes them tick, what keeps them going. The music goes a little harder here, which is hugely satisfying after the gentle touch of the tracks before. The tempo and volume build, with echoing vocals spiralling inward and shooting back out again. Almost a little like a dose of tough love. Where before there were gentle prods of self help, this track stands up and says, no seriously, I’m here to help you pick yourself up.
The final key point of the album is to maintain joy, as ‘Music’ sets out to say “don’t let the music stop”. While literal connotations can be found in the mind of these musicians, this largely comes across as a metaphor for whatever drives your passion in life. Appropriately, the music does the real talking here as somewhat of a jam session with raw emotion, all in the name of true joy from the heart.
The album closes on a simply beautiful high of love, soaring into an airy soundscape with a sense of romanticising life and going for the picture perfect, “to make life look like a movie with you”. Mild Orange’s new album has all the hazy sway of dream pop with a deeper indie rock edge, and all the power to lift anyone in need. A welcome new addition to the band’s discography indeed.