Although their name suggests the idea of heaven evading listeners, You’ll Never Get to Heaven makes a delicate, ambient LP full of songs that could suggest otherwise.

A sonic Monet painting

Hailing from London and Ontario, Canada, Alice Hansen and Chuck Blazevic released “Images” two years after the successful “Adorn” EP – a powerful compilation of songs including “Caught in a time So Far Away” and “Closer,” as standouts. “Images” carries this same aura, building upon the same dichotomy of airy, muted vocals and pulsating ambient pad synths.

As a whole, trying to pull standout tracks from the album was difficult. Upon listening, it feels as if the album should be listened to as a whole rather than listening to songs as singles. Although this feat could be achieved, the process would detract from the value of each song blending together to make this dreamy, ‘80s-inspired LP. Listened together, it sounds like a massive Monet painting. It deserves to be looked at as a holistic audio art piece rather than trying to focus on just one part of it.

The album’s lead track, “Shared Dreams,” sets the tone for the album, using light bell synth sounds with a moving bass line and marimba tones that pull the track along its course. Although it sounds as if it could stir different kinds of emotions, like the rest of the album, the track is tranquil in nature.

repetitive nature

Each track on the album plays off the latter and sets a precedent for the next. The repetitive piano and guitar chords of “Shadow Garden,” which then eases in a synth sounding like a rush of light wind, but with the force of a hurricane, create a sense of forceful calm. This song leads perfectly into “Beyond the Clouds,” which emanates a monastic vibe through its peaceful and repetitive nature. “Exquisite Tension” begins with a movie-style synth pad from the ‘70s and feels like it could fit perfectly into an ‘80s arthouse japanese film.

The album peaks with its last track, “Rain Copy.” Repetitive in nature, it sounds almost like a goodbye song from its choice use of reverberated pan flute synth and the key it is written in. Ironically, it beautifully ends with the sound of rain.

You’ll Never Get to Heaven’s bubbly “Images” radiates divine light through unique synths and drum pads carefully layered over ever-so delicate, pulled back vocals to create a gentle sound that is unlike any material out today. Rather than trying to convey tangible concepts to listeners, this 11-song ambient dream-pop LP emits soothing feelings and emotions of gentleness that can be understood by any person that listens to it in its entirety.