REVIEW: PEAKING LIGHTS – COSMIC LOGIC (2014)
Peaking Lights is made of married couple Aaron Coynes and Indra Dunis. The pair used to be based in Madison and ran favorite local thrift store, Good Style Shop. The space was located near East Washington and the Capitol but has now moved to the Project Lodge’s old real estate on Johnson Street. Both locations have hosted their fair share of concerts: while on East Washington, Acid Mothers Temple played a legendary packed show. Coynes and Dunis recently relocated back to California where they originally met; Dunis used to be part of the excellent San Francisco band Numbers. The band often would be grouped together with the likes of Deerhoof. Cosmic Logic is their new album and it is out on Domino and Weird World.
“Infinite Trips” has a magnetic bass line that powers the song as antiquated synths gush and distortion builds. On “Telephone Call” Dunis sings, “Telephone call/ Telephone call from space/Calling all/Calling all the human race”; a playful treble melody is interspersed among an ersatz low-end and a gamut of percussion. “Hypnotic Hustle” is dance-floor ready with the lyrics, “Got lost keeping time with our feet/Now we’re in too deep”. The song breaks down to a trance with laser beam effects and eight note hi hat hits on and as well as the lyrics, “Sun comes up/And then it goes down”. “Everyone and Us”, “Little Light” and “Dreamquest” keep the theme of deep synth propelled tracks going.
“Eyes to the Sea” changes the pace with a fierce groove and a dazzling melody. Dunis, this time around, lets her singing broaden. “Bad with the Good” features a more pronounced beat and a synth baritone line that sounds like a wooden bass slap. The song changes to exotic percussion as the songstress warbles, “In the night were going to have fun”. “New Grrrls” presents the first personal song of the album as it details Dunis’ transition from a punk riot grrrl to being a mom. In the song she sings, “Feminism gave me a choice/Riot grrrl gave me voice/Now I respect all the ladies/That paved the way for me”. “Tell Me Your Song” finishes the record on a regal note.
Cosmis Logic is an interesting blend of bass powered dance tracks with lots of synth. It does become a bit dull when the same low-end effect seems to be used on five tracks in a row on the first half of the album. That being said there are some definite highlights as described above. Cosmic Logic seems to be a departure of the dub workouts of Lucifer and 936. Check this album out if you are looking to get down.
Rating: 6.5/10
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