Light Damage: Numbers

It has been a few years since we have heard from the Luxembourg progressive rock band Light Damage. I reviewed their self-titled debut in 2014 and now the band is back with their second album titled Numbers. I thought their debut was an excellent example of heavy prog, as such I was very much looking forward to the follow up. As it has been a few years this has come as a very nice surprise as the band has further matured and grown, releasing a very enjoyable modern progressive rock album. A prime example is the opening track “Number 261�. A delightful keyboard drenched intro erupts with soaring vocals and busy drum work adding just the right amount of dramatic flair. The ensuing guitar solo is very nice indeed. Trippy keyboards and crystalline guitar begin “Bloomed�, a fairly heavy track showcasing superb guitar work throughout. The obligatory epic is the near twenty minute “From Minor To Sailor� with a beginning reminding me of something from Robert Plant’s Now and Zen album. The band adds plenty of atmosphere, the flute and guitar in particular and as the guitar builds the music gets decidedly heavier. The track flows beautifully with the guitar solos and vocals earning much deserved praise. This isn’t something that will take you on a number of different paths but it is something expertly crafted with layers building upon layers and of course the musicianship is exemplary. On “Little Dark One� the cello, violin and organ is front and center as the song traverses light and heavy passages. The half spoken male and female vocals fit in nicely and more of that melodic guitar work caught my ear immediately. The disc ends with the dreamy and serene “Untitled�, a short spoken word number with gorgeous piano and strings. My only gripe is I would have preferred the album to go out with more of a bang, but that’s just personal taste.

Numbers is a delightful modern prog album taking influences from the Gilmour school of guitar playing and adding their own sense of style. Melodic prog fans would do well to check this one out.

Released on Progressive Promotion Records.

Musicians:
Nicholas-John Dewez (lead vocals, theremin, additional guitars)
Frédérik Hardy (bass guitars, bass pedals, backing vocals)
Stéphane Lecocq (lead guitars)
Sébastien Pérignon (keyboards)
Christophe Szczyrk (drums)
With:
Charlie Bertrand (musical box ��" track 6)
Astrid Gallez (flutes ��" track 3)
Marie-Noël Mouton (vocals- track 6)
Judith Lecuit (cellos ��" tracks 4 and 6)
Marilyn Placek (vocals- tracks 1 and 3)
Dominique Poncin (double bass ��" tracks 4 and 6)
Margot Poncin (violins ��" tracks 4 and 6)

Track Listing:
1. Number 261 (3:18)
2. Bloomed (3:01)
3. From Minor To Sailor (19:45)
4. Little Dark One (9:31)
5. Phantom Twin (9:42)
6. Untitled (3:16)

Added: April 2nd 2019
Reviewer: Jon Neudorf
Score:
Related Link: Band's Official Site
Hits: 1242
Language: english

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