Fuzzy Lights - Helm

  by Paul Waller

published: 10 / 6 / 2010

---

Earlier this year Xavier and Rachel Watkins, the husband and wife leaders from Cambridge-based post rockers Fuzzy Lights paused the recording process of their new LP and took a break with their band to the Lake District where they reassessed things and with minimal recording equipment recorded this EP intended for release as a precursor to the main event in an isolated cabin. Of the four resulting tracks on offer opener ‘Things We Left Behind’ is the dud. The thin processed beats infect the otherwise adequate tune with an awkward rhythm that ruins any chance I have of engaging with the song. The rest of ‘Helm’ though is a resounding success. If you have are obsessed like me with the likes of Silver Mt. Zion and Godspeed You Black Emperor then ‘Aira’ and the beautifully enchanting ‘Burn With Light’ will enthral you and get you digging out those old Constellation Records releases. The creaky violins and distant choral chants juxtapose with the bright hook laden melodies to create a timeless trio of songs that culminate with ‘Black Diamond’ where Rachel takes a lead vocal role. This song is the folksier of the three and the closest to what fans of the band would recognise as a standard Fuzzy Lights song. The way her vocals are buried creates a haunting edge to the track that although has become common practise today (see the delightful Broadcast and the Focus Group album released last year for evidence of this) still works well enough to leave the listener spooked. If the band had omitted the drum machine on ‘Things We Left Behind’ they would find themselves here with a near perfect EP as any band in any era or location could ever dream of making. Even with its opening affliction ‘Helm’ must be considered nothing short of a flawed masterpiece.

Track Listing:-

1 Things We Left Behind
2 Aira
3 Burn With Light
4 Black Diamond

Band Links:-

http://www.fuzzylights.com/
https://www.facebook.com/fuzzylights/
https://twitter.com/wefuzzylights
http://www.fuzzylights.com/youtube.com/fuzzylights
http://www.fuzzylights.com/
http://fuzzylights.bandcamp.com/

Label Links:-

http://www.littleredrabbit.co.uk/
https://twitter.com/LittleR_dRabbit
https://www.facebook.com/LittleRedRabbit/

Post A Comment

---

Comment

Name

your name

Location

ie London, UK

Submit

Check box to submit

Adam Coxon
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson

Dixie Ernill
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart

Malcolm Carter
Marie Hazelwood
Mark Rowland
Nick Dent-Robinson
Nicky Crewe
Nige Nudds
Philamonjaro
Richard Lewis
Shirley Procter
Spencer Robertshaw
Steev Burgess
Steve Kinrade

Steve Miles
Tommy Gunnarsson
Zena Grieg