LIGHTTOWN CLOSURE

The first full length album by the obscurely-named band, Fourteen Twentysix, is quite a mature offering, and the closing chapter of the story cycle that began on the debut EP "Songs to Forget". This album reminds me of acts like Porcupine Tree and Gazpacho - this is one of those bands where the most effective music works on you through the delicate layering of sounds and effects, more than through melodies and catchy riffs. Fortunately, this is a style of music I find I quite enjoy, so as far as I am concerned that is a very good thing.

In general, Chris (who did everything recorded on this album) has set a mellow mood on this album. It is very effective, especially on tracks like the opener (AM) where the space between the notes is as important as the notes themselves. I think the contrast between AM and the next track, After the Storm, is perhaps the best on the album, for where AM is completely acoustic, After the Storm is full of samples and effects.

Unfortunately, there is not a high level of contrast through the rest of the album, and that can make the album fade into the background if you are not giving it your full attention. The whole album generally has a slower, mellow sound. As such, the album is much more rewarding if you are able to find the time to truly dedicate your attention to it - something that has been difficult for me lately. I was able to do so a couple times this week and (with the subconscious memorisation of the many listens I had put in before) this really helped me appreciate all the subtle details that have been put into the music.

Thematically, I get a strong sense that this album is about moving forward (as the name suggests) and escaping from the past. It deals not only with how the ghosts of the past can effect us, but to me I get a strong sense of a striving to make the future somehow different from the past. "So many years have passed, I've changed so much, but I'm still right here", Chris sings in Closing Hours.

Overall, this album is a bit of a sleeper hit - truthfully, on the first listen it's very easy to miss a lot of what makes this album so enjoyable, because so much of it is in the subtle layering. It's like soup left on to simmer, the longer it's on, the more the different flavors intermingle to create something more than just the parts. And again, it benefits much from dedicated listening. The only thing holding this album back from true greatness is the lack of contrast. By the end of the album, the steady mellowness is less effective, just because by that point you have "adjusted" to it. A little more variety could have given it that extra oomph.

This album is available freely from many locations, including the bands bandcamp and on lastfm. So if you are a fan of this style of music, it is definitely worth your time to check out.