New Zealand’s artist Lontalius returns with “How Can We Lose When We’re So Sincere?!,” his sophomore full-length album, a 16-song odyssey of raw emotion, glimmering melodies, and self-reflective storytelling. At 37 minutes and 41 seconds, this album establishes Lontalius as a maestro of the understated intensity of love, yearning, and self-discovery.
As the album’s opening track lurches into gear, Lontalius pulls listeners into his inner world, layering crystalline synths, melodic guitar lines, and his trademark breathy yet powerful singing. Tracks like “Come Straight To Me” serve as a love letter to honesty and connection, featured within an ethereal soundscape that resonates. Meanwhile, “Runner Up” taps out an understated urgency, and its bittersweet lyrics dwell on the ache of being almost enough.
“How Can We Lose When We’re So Sincere?!,” sharpens his skill at making the personal universal. Every song is like an entry in a diary, packed with whispered confessions and beauty on the verge of sobbing, but the album feels vast, made for long drives, quiet nights, and moments of meditation.
This release reestablishes Lontalius as one of the most compelling contemporary voices in indie music, seamlessly weaving bedroom pop with storytelling. This album is for anyone looking for music that speaks straight from the heart in precisely the unfiltered sincerity you crave.
