Sometimes the greatest ideas come from a spur-of-the-moment text. Case in point: in 2023, Ashe, established star in her own right with her viral smash hit “Moral Of The Story” and incredible debut record Ashlyn, messaged her long-time pal Finneas, aka Grammy-magnet and brother/co-writer/bandmate of Billie Eilish, simply saying “Hear me out. Should we start a band?”. What could have been a half-joke has now given us The Favors, and their debut album The Dream is an absolute gift to the world. Cinematic, romantic, heartbreakingly beautiful- it’s one of those rare albums that paints such vivid pictures you feel like you’re watching the movie of their love story playing out in real time. And honestly, I’m obsessed.
The record begins with “Restless Little Heart”, a short but dazzling into that welcomes us into the world of The Favors. Ashe’s voice comes first, warm and aching, before Finneas joins with his signature dreamy croon. When they finally sing together? Sparks. Actual sparks. It’s the musical equivalent of watching the two main characters in a romcom lock eyes across the room. Then comes the titular track, “The Dream”, which is hands-down my favourite. It’s breezy and joyful, and very Fleetwood Mac-coded. It’ll have you twirling around your kitchen singing into your wooden spoon, guaranteed. Following close behind is “Moonshine”, which brings a moodier, cozy moment.
Of course, the singles hit just as hard. “The Little Mess You Made” is playful, groovy and way deeper than it first appears- a cheeky bop with a raw emotional core. “The Hudson” feels like a love letter wrapped in a blanket. It’s warm, intimate and so picturesque that you can practically see the bare trees and city lights. “Ordinary People” slows things down a bit, a 50s-tinges ballad that oozes nostalgia- it’s dreamy in every sense of the word.
And then, because this record refuses to give your heart a break, we get “Necessary Evils”- an absolute tear-jerker that is made to have you crying in your car. It’s followed by “Times Square Jesus”, in which Ashe’s vocals in particular really shine- so delicate and adding a layer of authenticity to the already beautiful track. David’s Brother sees Ashe and Finneas trading lyrics like two characters in a play, the back-and-forth building into a peppy jam that shows how much fun they’re having together. Then comes “Lake George”, a slow-burn stunner. The lyrics, “I’d be just about anyone else tonight, who’s not loving you, I’d take just about anyone home tonight, to stop loving you” tell the story of two heartbroken lovers, painfully trying (and failing) to move on, and aided by the subtle sound of waves in the background this track paints such a clear picture and is begging to be included on a movie soundtrack.
It’s at this point in the record that we’re thrown a curveball in the form of “Someday I’ll Be Back In Hollywood”. Here, drummer David Marinelli (aka Marinelli) steps up on vocals, and it’s pure magic- an unexpected but brilliant detour that proves that this record really is a group effort. And then we arrive at “Home Sweet Home”, the finale, and what a send-off it is. It kicks off as a slow duet before sneakily building up into a groovy dance anthem with funky guitars and disco-tinges drums, whilst still remaining sincere and captivating. It’s everything that The Dream stands for tied up together in a neat little bow. If the closer makes or breaks and album, this one makes it tenfold.
The Dream is, simply put, a dream- a hauntingly beautiful, endlessly cinematic masterpiece with more heart than most. Every track feels like an epic love story, and whilst I hate to think of what Ashe and Finneas must have gone through to be able to write such painfully realistic love songs, I am selfishly very grateful for it. Whether The Favors ends up being a one-and-done project or its the beginning of something bigger, one thing is certain: The Dream is already timeless, and if this is all we get, at least it’s perfection!
FIVE STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
The Dream is out now – grab a copy HERE.
Photo credit: Artist Supplied
