Los Campesinos! Album Review
Tommy Davis | Feb. 10, 2026
Self-proclaimed U.K.’s first and only emo band, Los Campesinos! released their eighth album titled “So Close to Heaven (Live at Troxy)” on Aug. 27, 2025. The album is 21 songs from the 40 songs the band sang at its two Troxy, London, performances in February 2025. The album encapsulates the experience of a true Los Campesinos! live show.
Los Campesinos! formed in the halls of Cardiff University, Wales, in 2006. The band was originally inspired by the twee pop movement, a subgenre of indie pop, and the post-rock style. They then began composing their music, and a performance at the Student Union Club night and a few Myspace posts later led to the band signing with Wichita Recordings in November of 2006. They released their first album, “Hold on Now, Youngster,” in 2008.
This latest album release was made as an end of their “All Hell” era, their previous album. As the band moves to their next creation, they give tribute to the recent years with the live album containing songs from “All Hell” along with songs from earlier in their discography. During two of their live shows in Troxy, London, the band recorded the songs through the sound desk, chose the ones they wanted, and compiled them into this latest album. The band says that to live in this world is to navigate a total hellscape, and the moments they have on stage are small moments that are the opposite of that hellscape. That is where they got the name for the album, “So Close to Heaven.”
“So Close to Heaven (Live at Proxy)” was a fun listen, to say the least. The crowd singing along in the background and the raw emotion from the lead vocalist, Gareth Paisey, gives a different feeling to the music. Los Campesinos! has a wide variety of sounds and instruments, including a glockenspiel and flute in many of the songs. I think that the choice of sound adds to my interest in this band. Live music is about as genuine as a band can get, and a whole album sharing that experience is stunning. The clips of Gareth calling out to the crowd the next song and receiving cheers is something so specific to live concerts and makes you feel as if you’re a part of the crowd watching them perform.
Los Campesinos! puts their performances and fans first, which is evident in the way they speak about their album and the actual music. The lyrics of each song either tell a story or speak about some sort of human experience in a weird but understandable way. They have their own way of wording that takes time to get used to, but it adds to the character of the band. If you’re one for pop music, a couple of existential lyrics and live music, this album is right up your alley.