Don't try to Google this band's name, because you will most likely fail. Lights is a psych-folk foursome from Brooklyn led by the three-girl harmonizing of Sophia Knapp (guitar/vox), Linnea Vedder (drums/vox) and Wizard Smoke (light show/vox.) That's right, Wizard Smoke. They released their self-titled debut album this year on the indie label Language of Stone, who are well known for their taste in psychedelic folk rock records.I had this one spinning in the background yesterday and it sunk in almost immediately. It's complete siren-esque psychedelia, with soft vocal harmonies, fuzzy electric guitar leads, and slow-jam ballads that take some inspiration from the Velvet Underground. Lights toured with Bright Black Morning Light last year, which should give you an idea of what to expect. One review I came across labeled it as dark, ghost-like witch rock. Another one called it psychedelicious. I prefer the latter.
Via Boomkat: "Mitchell's bass holds together structure on "At Midnight" while the girls' voices waft mellifluously through the song. It's a boldly skeletal opener, but the more atmospheric "Break, Run Fly" soon provide an injection of energy, with squawking lead guitar and tape loops of sea birds echoing around the mix. The first real standout, "Branches Low", has a classic seventies feel, not entirely unlike an early Yes record, minus the flashy muso tendencies."
"This sets the tone for more great ballad type pieces, namely "Rise Up" and "Here We Go", which manage to sound evocatively psychedelic without having to resort to excessive vintage effects pedals or production tricks. The best is saved for last however: after a four minute drift of instrumental weirdness the closing track "Sing It O-O-O" arrives like a breath of fresh air, rocking out in a slightly shambolic fashion while Knapp and Shults lay down a memorable, harmonised melody."
