ARBOR LIGHTS

— First review of this album —

After a first studio trial to record the single On A Sea, Arbor Lights returned to recordings in 2012 for their first, eponymous, EP. It is composed of five short tracks, that work more as musical samples than actual songs. There are a couple of interesting ideas that unfortunately are not given enough space to fully grow up. The most interesting track is The Saviours of Zombie Ska, that starts rather well, but ends up going no particular place. Lower tempo moments are somewhat dull, particularly in Constants.

This EP is an interesting testimony to the maturation process Arbor Lights went through. Far from excellent, it still shows the group was "on to something". A step towards their more accomplished works, Heartherton Lake in 2013 and Live at Sunrunner in 2017.

After a single and an EP in 2012, Arbor Lights returned to studio in 2013 for a full length recording. The end result was Hatherton Lake, a 5 track LP that fits well in a vinyl.

The songs are definitely more interesting than those recorded in 2012, more mature and engaging, without never being complex. The sound is tight, greatly helped by modern day digital time-keepers; as usual in Math Rock, there are two guitars, but is no intention to show off. Two tracks stand out: Interstellar and Damascus, they build up the atmosphere very well, are then able to surprise the listener and result in soothing and swaying melodies. As an opener, Silent City also works quite well, although keeping it simple throughout. The final tracks provide a smooth exit, without ever returning to the thrill of the earlier tracks.

In 2013 none of this was really innovative, and compared with what other emerging Math Rock bands were doing at the time, say Damascus or Valerinne, perhaps not even outstanding. However, taking the record as a whole, with all its bottoms and valleys, and its occasional genuineness, it is well worth adding to any modern Math Rock collection.