themannequinfred: All The Bright Lights

James and Jon Duke have been friends of mine for most of my life. We grew up in the same circles in Jacksonville, FL and have played on a ton of records together. A few months ago, I was privileged to play some Rhodes and Moog on their first record as the band "All The Bright Lights" and I have eagerly awaited it's release ever since.

The self titled first release from All The Bright Lights could easily be compared to bands in the post-rock genre like Explosions in the Sky and Sigur Ros, but this album's originality and creative direction supersedes any attempt at generic branding. James Duke's layered melodic guitar work, Jon's intelligent bass movements and production value, and Jacob Arnold's simple, yet powerful drumming combine to make this record a genre defying work of inspired art. I especially love the way the vocals are treated on this record. The Brian Wilson-esque layered harmonies of "I Saw You Running" and the hauntingly hooky lead vocal line in "Shadow of The King" prove that this band is way more than a strictly instrumental project. Jeremy Griffith's mix brings out all of the contrasting shadows in these songs, it lends a sonic emotional depth and enhances the climactic builds and wide epic soundscapes that characterize All The Bright Lights. The art direction and layout was headed up by Eric Hurtgen from Adah Design and encapsulates the atmosphere of the record with imagery and finishes off the record as a creative whole.

Remember when buying a record was an experience? Yeah, it's pretty much that.