Modular Living is the latest album from Eat Lights, Become Lights. This London four-piece have been going strong since they started attacking people’s senses in 2007. They are certainly an interesting band. Writer, performer and engineer Neil Rudd formed ELBL from his love of German avant rock and 70s electronica that in turn create this sound that sits at either end of the spectrum.
Modular living, from the get go, sets you up for a ride through a sonic landscape, which one could only imagine would be full of bright colours, odd costumes and weird and wonderful inhabitants. This could quite easily be a 1980s video game soundtrack.
I’m not sure what to actually compare their sound to, as this is certainly a new experience for me. Think traditional band set up, drums, bass, and guitars, and then maximize that by 100 and take some acid; that is this band in a nutshell. Can you dance to it? Yes. Can you chill to it? In a way yes. Can it be enjoyed both alone and in a group? Yes. So really this album ticks all the right, weird and wonderful boxes that it set out to.
Don’t let the 9 tracks fool you though. This is not a quick listen, with some tracks lasting over 8 minutes. I am particularly fond of the minimal, slow, almost plodding track ‘Rowley Way Overlook’. Those films you watch where there is a simple, steady and atmospheric soundtrack playing, whilst a really intense, often violent scene is playing visually – that’s what this song does to my brain. It would be the perfect accompaniment to any action sequence.
There is an effective mixture of upbeat, happy tracks and dark, sometimes bordering on sinister, tracks. This is why this record feels like a soundtrack, taking you on a journey. The music has been crafted so perfectly that every track conjures up different images in the listeners mind. This is a very creative record that stands out from the crowd. I would imagine that a live show would be nothing but a pleasure to experience, and be more like an art performance than a gig.
There is an intensity to this record that might not be expected upon first listen. It is definitely a grower. This certainly is not a mainstream record, but it is bold and focused and makes for a far more eclectic listen than anything in the charts right now, so I would suggest giving it a try.
Release Date 16/07/2013 (Rocket Girl)
I have always had a passion for music. Growing up I spent many a Friday night glued to TOTP and many a Sunday attempting to record the Top 40 to tape. In secondary school I learnt the guitar and drums as well as being in every choir, sound crew and production I could. Finally, It was at University in Chester where I began to start writing reviews. Until then I didn't really think anyone would want to know my opinion. We had a guest lecturer come in and he had us do a minute task where we listened to a song and them had to write a descriptive one liner about it. I realised from this point that I could combine creative writing, music knowledge and opinion into something productive and interesting. That's when I signed up to Silent Radio. It was the perfect thing for me to get involved with, I could voice my opinion on the student airwaves and then write it for the website.Now I am a Music Production and Radio graduate, living in London and working my first industry job. I spend my days working at Metropolis Studios and my nights attempting to write well educated, witty and interesting reviews.When it comes to my taste in music I guess it's rather varied. I will pretty much give anything a listen. The genres closet to my heart would probably be rock, soul, funk and dance but thankfully my job is broadening my listening horizons even further. As a reviewer I would say I have a fan type approach and sometimes I am a little to generous when turning that dial but they are always honest and I hope to some degree, relevant. My hopes are to continue writing for SR, growing as a reviewer and expanding my music knowledge.
