Song Review - Silk Sonic - Love’s Train
REVIEW BY: Camille Penrose
Strap yourself in for a ride on Love’s Train, Silk Sonic’s newest single. Good news is - “you don’t need no ticket to ride”! This is a late single coming off their 2021 smash album An Evening With Silk Sonic. Unsurprisingly, this latest track is as smooth as ever.
Silk Sonic, a duo comprised of hit-maker Bruno Mars and talented drummer/singer Anderson .Paak, have continued to pay tribute to 70s R&B music, even going as far to find unique drum skins to better replicate the sounds of this era. Trumpets and various horns ring throughout this piece, with almost a Motown vibe at times. They’re smooth, crystalising and gloriously indulgent. The syncopated piano chords add to the jazzy tone in the song, with a relaxed guitar beat that brings the casual effortlessness of the duo.
Love’s train explores how “sometimes love strings can be broken/but you just have to keep on going”. The train is a metaphor for love - once you’re in on can’t jump off and escape. Although this does sound slightly intense, that is certainly not the tone of the song. Mars’ and .Paak’s doting lyrics about a “special lover” pay tribute to the lightness and playfulness of romance, particularly in the initial stages.
Often Silk Sonic’s vocals are dominated by the ridiculously range that is Bruno Mars. However, Love’s Train showcases .Paak’s voice more than any of their previous singles, and boy is it nice. What can this man not do? He plays all the drum lines in their music, writes the pieces and raps. His raspy lower tone oozes throughout the song and is a nice contrast to Mars’ higher vocal parts.
At over five minutes long, Love’s Train is the longest song on the album, but it feels like it goes quickly. What sets Silk Sonic apart from other R&B/soul artists is their willingness to have fun with the genre. Their quintessential use of horns in this piece would sound cheesy if it was contextualised with the relentless seriousness used by other artists in the genre. But Silk Sonic blends these classic tones with modern choices to create a relaxed, but high-spirited piece that finds lightness in its subject matter. The playful nature of the song is also present in its very obvious influences, like The Temptations, Stevie Wonder and even Aretha Franklin at times. The tight, fuzzy harmonies that we’re met with when we finally hear of the love train halfway into the piece is so beautifully reminiscent of the Bee Gees, but slightly more gospel.
There is no doubt that this is extravagant, indulgent music. It’s velvety, rich and delightfully luxurious to listen to. But where will Silk Sonic pivot to next? I’m not sure anyone knows. All I can say is that I will gladly hop on Love’s Train.
