Album Review: City Riots - Sea Of Bright Lights

1 November 2012 | 4:16 pm | Tess Ingram

Sea Of Bright Lights extends the band’s earlier EP work and matures their sound, making this a solid debut from the almost-veterans of the shoegaze scene.

Since 2005, City Riots have been stomping some serious ground touring both at home and abroad. Seven years after forming they finally drop their debut effort, written and recorded in a mere six months. This doesn't mean the Adelaide quartet have hurried or forced the album; rather it seems to have been born at the perfect moment. Good things come to those who wait.

With breathy vocals, soaring synths, jangly guitars and hook-laden pop tunes, Sea Of Bright Lights is the perfect album for a summer road trip or a long day at the beach. The aforementioned sonic combination could come across as fake and irritating, but City Riots have found the perfect balance of indie rock and dream pop to make this a debut with enough variation to be an easy listen.

Opener Trip proves that the band can create some heavier moments with a range of soundscapes, a heavy bass riff and dreamy guitar. Across parts of the album, the lyrics can err on the weaker side, but it doesn't seem to matter too much, with the vocals sitting towards the back of the songs and the cruisy melodies taking centre stage. Lead single Wait For You has the cinematic qualities of an '80s falling-in-love montage and album highlight Back To Normal is a perfect capsule of the best City Riots can be.

Sea Of Bright Lights extends the band's earlier EP work and matures their sound, making this a solid debut from the almost-veterans of the shoegaze scene.

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