Somewhere along the way, Valerie Anne Poxleitner, who was born in Timmins, Ontario changed her name to LIGHTS, and carved out a career for herself in the world of electronic music. ‘Siberia’ is her second full length album, which has enjoyed some success in her native Canada, where she has already been the recipient of the coveted Juno award for artist of the year.
This album consists of thirteen tracks, all well written, and inhabits a territory that is one part Gary Numan (at his most recent) and one part Depeche Mode, when they produced songs that were pure pop. This is an incredibly likeable and catchy album, with a number of great tracks, some aimed directly at the dance floor, and some of a rather more cerebral variety.
Opening with the title track ‘Siberia’, the mood is upbeat and poppy, synths soar over some heavy electro drums, Lights’ vocals are soft and breathy, which suit this love song perfectly: -
“From the busy parks to the icy tides/ Someday we’ll decide where we want to live out our lives/ I would sail across the East Sea, just to see you on the far side/ Where the wind is cold and angry. There you’ll be to take me inside.”
Following this is ‘Where The Fence Is Low’, which was a single release preceding this album. It’s quite heavy electronica on this track, which gives a deeper sound, which is offset by some vocals that are somewhat childlike and hopeful: - “I’m off on my rope here; I’m off on my own here/ And I find my hope here, I find my own here/ Where the fence is low.”
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‘Banner’ is a track of magnificent anthemic synth pop. With some off the wall lyrics: “Maybe it’s bricks and mortar now. Whether or not they run it down/ I don’t want anything to shake that shape away/ No-one told us which way to come. Nobody mapped oblivion.” This is topped with a rising chorus of “So lift it up like a banner" and it's nigh on perfect. It’s being released as a single in the US and Canada. Hopefully it will receive the same treatment over here.
‘Cactus In The Valley’ is a wonderful synth pop ballad. The lyrics appear to juxtapose a cactus withering in the desert with a love that is withering and dying: “I never meant to wither, I wanted to be tall/ Like a fool I left the river and watched my branches fall/ Old and thirsty, I longed for the flood to come back round/ To the cactus in the valley that’s about to crumble down.” This is contrasted with a chorus that includes: - “If my yesterday is a disgrace, tell me that you still recall my name.”
Lights has added a new depth and slant on a genre that is currently thriving. Hopefully, she will garner the same enthusiastic reviews and success that she has already got in the bag in the States.
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