Record Review, Green Lights, Time To Tell the Parents

Posted on 15th Dec 08 by Contributor | 0

Artist: Green Lights
Author: James Holland

Green Lights" second EP Time to Tell the Parents comes with high expectations following the housemate trios recent activities supporting such power house Irish luminaries as Fight Like Apes and Adebisi Shank. With a hybrid sound drawn from influences from the likes of multi"instrumentalist Londoner Tom Vek to American indie legends Pavement and Yo La Tengo" Green Lights sound quite unlike anything else currently in the Irish scene.

Cut To The Chase gets things going right from the off with the intros catchy hook welcoming the listener comfortably into the Green Lights" world of electronic mish"mash pop"rock. Colin s echoing and effects"laden vocals are almost drowned out by a combination of his powerful" driven guitar squeals and Daniels pounding drums " but that seems to be just the intention as he saves his energy to repeatedly roar I don t believe in you in the colourful and engaging climax.

The intro to the following 23 Days sounds like Brian Eno produced U2 but this mood is quickly changed by a meaty guitar entrance. The largely instrumental effort employs a structure that sees the tone varying from soft to sweeping staggered guitar hooks before gradually building to an awesome peak at the 2:50 mark: an audacious and spectacular mash of roaring guitars which is arguably the EP"s most memorable moment.

The delightfully delicate exit track Tiny Little Ghost delivers a surprisingly atmospheric" almost lullaby like end to Time To Tell The Parents with its subtle yet quirky electronic effects "except for the short and unexpected attack of distorted guitar towards the end" signing off in subdued" un"chartered territory for Green Lights.

An interesting and appealing effort" Time to Tell the Parents is certainly an enjoyable listen" marred only by the lazy "except for Nigels synth wizardry" It"s not what you think it is and" while we re not trying to start a quantity over quality argument" the fact remains that it could really have done with another track. All in all though it has to be said that" like its predecessor Small Curious Things "also released this year"" it shows plenty of promise from Green Lights " hopefully a big act for 2009.