Having already been released in America back in October, LIGHTS‘ sophomore album ‘Siberia’ will have already been heard by a fair few already, however, ‘Siberia’ has finally been given a UK release date, so…
In a genre that has been largely dominated by the likes of Owl City, LIGHTS has done well to stand apart and deliver an album that does stand out from the crowd. It’s an album that, while predominantly electro synth-pop, borrows from many other genres and there’s a massive dubstep influence embedded throughout – a feature most noticed in ‘Where The Fence is Low’. Thankfully, it’s not an element that’s been forced into the album, and it fits with and transforms the genre into something that’s easy on the ear and in a way, quite relaxing.
As the album continues it’s easy to see why LIGHTS is admired – her voice is endearing, and rings with enthusiasm throughout. It’s a voice that’s full of emotion and fits the genre perfectly, and that’s what makes ‘Siberia’ what it is. All of this is defined perfectly within ‘Banner’, and her song writing talent is especially evident in ‘Cactus in the Valley’ – a song that is completely stripped back and is a showcase for just how good she can be.
This is not an album without faults though; at just under an hour long, you can find yourself drifting off. For a fan of the genre I can imagine this being fine, but for a casual listener it does clock in a little too long. The hits are there – and that’s great – but a few of the songs are quite samey, and that does affect the overall standard of the album.
Overall, ‘Siberia’ is a good album. It stands out as one of the stronger recent releases in the genre, but the problem is that the genre is fairly restrictive in what it can offer. In ‘Siberia’, LIGHTS hints at expanding her sound – and that is the best thing she could do to progress as an artist.
CHRIS MARSHMAN