CD Reviews
February 22nd 2012
Federal Lights
FEDERAL LIGHTS
Carbon
- Independent
Carbon, by Winnipeg’s Federal Lights, is a solid EP. The songs feature an eclectic mix of instrumentation and emotionality, making it a great listen.
I Woke Up kicks things off with a great round of raucous “na-na-nas.” What seems like an ode to the morning after a night of debauchery has Jean-Guy Roy exclaiming he’s “done it again,” with a chorus of “I’m not alright” and lamenting a headache. I’m a sucker for glockenspiel, so the use of the elementary school favourite throughout the EP is music to my ears. Just like we fought over who got to play this instrument in music class, my ears are fighting over which track is my favourite. I really dig I Don’t Mind’s powerful chorus with Roy’s perfectly gravelly voice and punch of organ. Weight Of Us Both has some beautiful piano that moves into a great build, and the song continues as an emotional instrumental for the rest of the track, which may just make it my favourite from the EP.
This review appeared in Volume 66, Number 20 of The Uniter, published February 22nd 2012.
