It takes just the opening bars of first track 'Transatlantic' and all of a sudden we're back in 2008 and raving about the new brand of math-rock that Foals have just unleashed on the world with their debut album, while all the hipsters around us are pretending that Gang Of Four have always been their favourite band. Does it sound dated, then? No, not really; Brightest Color's combination of angular post-punk and noodly guitar lines is actually a welcome sound. It's a return to a scene that was over before it really got started and before hardly any of the music was created to a high enough standard to leave a lasting impression. The slightly accented vocals work well too; the band are based in Brooklyn but were formed by two Parisians, perhaps the reason for giving this lively opener its name.
It's a song they struggle to match in (no pun intended) brightness, but that kind of sparkle is difficult to capture and what follows is hardly substandard. Tightness and complexity are clearly two goals for the quintet, and the musicianship is faultless yet not to the point of being sanitised. The chanting chorus of 'Providence' also takes your mind back to the indie-dance crossover scene of just a few years ago, although due to its quality this likeness isn't a problem in the slightest as it rings out its final notes. Similar in style with a mildly more exotic flavour is the appropriately-titled 'Hindsight', a word that summarises this EP; taking these recent sounds and using the benefit of time to assess just what worked best and what to discard. Including more thoughtful lyrics for example, is a wise move that prevents accusations of style over content. 'Rapture' also isn't a track that's short of depth and also sees them take a more electronic-sounding approach for much of the song, before those glistening, fluttering guitars leap in for the chorus. A glance back a the recent past maybe, but one that's worth a look.
Brightest Color's website
contact@thesoundofconfusion.com
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