Album Review: Son Lux – 'Tomorrows III'
Prepare to lose your head as Son Lux share the third and final volume of long format album ‘Tomorrows’.
As far as concept albums go, ‘Tomorrows III’ is an undisputed work of art. Following on from the meticulous constructions of ‘Tomorrows’ I and II, this third iteration combines the anxious tone and flow of its predecessors and culminates in an emotional conclusion.
From the get-go, Son Lux don’t hold back on dramatic flourishes or make futile attempts to hide the underlying tensions. Immersive intro ‘Unbind’ –that, coming in at an impressive 5 minutes, might feel a little long-winded– is laced with a dissonant chaos. Building a stark contrast to the otherwise serene nature of weeping strings and gentle orchestral backing, a roaring electric guitar takes the place of what no doubt would be spectacular vocals. As the track dies down to allow safe passage into the eerie world of ‘Tomorrows III’ all sights are set on much needed liberation.
Radiating all kinds of shadow energy –read: abandoned castles, mythical forests and old gothic libraries– the album doesn’t shy away from difficult themes (imbalance, disruption, collision, redefinition) or unexpected experimentation. All it asks of you is that you surrender to the madness and allow Son Lux to dazzle you with their creative genius.
Each track lives in its own sonic ecosystem. Continuously reinventing their stylings and warping perceptions by adding layers of distortion to soothing surroundings, there is no telling what comes next as we move through the thicket of Son Lux’s haunting soundscapes. Where ‘Come Recover’ feels heartbreakingly hopeless with its synth-coated production and enchanting vocals that lure you into the darkness (“there’s no shelter underneath your skin”), ‘Sever’, guided by Holland Andrew’s angelic vocals, feels like the promise of salvation. It’s this collaboration with new voices that sets ‘Tomorrows III’ apart from the first two albums that were both brought to live by the band alone. Adding not only fresh perspectives but more depth to their sonic textures, Son Lux create an intriguingly complex experience.
Raw and intimate, Son Lux’s songwriting prowess comes full circle on ‘Tomorrows III’. Dressed in minimal yet distorted instrumentations that allow their urgent vocals and poetic lyricism to take the lead, the album highlights the bands fluid and highly individual take on storytelling.
Words by Laura Freyaldenhoven