Just when you thought modern music had lost its soul . . .
While New York City churns out dance pop, Seattle cries tears of indie rock goodness, and Los Angeles provides us with all our Garage Punk needs, Chicago keeps relatively to itself: an introspective tinkerer, dabbling in the dazzling. From Chicago we get Steve Albini, Touch and Go Records, Cap'n Jazz, and now Light Pollution.
The press release I received states that Light Pollution is, "never stagnant, and constantly expanding their musical horizons. [The] music is a kaleidoscope of sound, encompassing everything from backward tapes to dissonant piano rolls to even crunching leaves." In short, a band that is doing something interesting. And we like that.
We receive a lot of music here at Duck & Cover, but Light Pollution stood out. As it played through we all sat back on the couch, put our hands behind our heads, and someone muttered, "Ah. Real musicians playing real music. So rare these days." Indeed.
The only criticism I have is the singer's voice stands out a little too much, especially on Firewood, on which singer Jim Cicero's voice swings and lilts through verses that, quite honestly, aren't very interesting. But things get better on the next song, and the next, and the next--and by the last track you're dancing around the kitchen playing drums with jars of salsa (not advised).
Light Pollution is releasing their debut album in early 2009, but they have a 22-minute EP available now. Check their MySpace page for more details.
You'll like Light Pollution if you like Talking Heads, Okkervil River, crisp autumn afternoons, my good friend Phil, apples, or middle distance running.
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