New Jersey-based project Bright Shining Lights deepen their cinematic approach on new album SM-02, where richer strings and fuller orchestral textures create the sensation of an unmade film score. Across successes like “Here To There,” “Through The Long Grass,” “Path Less Travelled,” and “Splendor,” the album balances contemplative beauty with darker intricacies.
“This record feels more immersive and cinematic than SM-01,” the band says. “We wanted to deliver something that felt more like a film score. It’s a bit of a departure from the first, but certainly built upon the creation of The Sun Is A Star — where we discovered how impactful music can be when you don’t direct the narrative through lyrics.”
An epic captivation shows on opening track “Here To There,” where simmering strings flow with gradually unfolding immersion. The artist’s aim to resemble a sound akin to a film score is immediately on display, evoking a contemplative scene where a character wanders through nature. Slight touches of piano at the two-minute turn add further to the enveloping soundscape. Ensuing track “Through The Long Grass” struts a more sweepingly majestic aura in its use of wordless choral harmonies, sending a ghostly impact in its layered textures amidst resonant swells of strings and elegant piano infusions.
Elsewhere, “Path Less Travelled” consumes within a moody, nocturnal entrancement. Mellow piano and haunting background layers drive to glimpses of human voice, then evolving into an arpeggiated likeness of strings. The melding of orchestral neo-classical with electronic production techniques proves riveting, reminiscent of Oneohtrix Point Never. Likewise, “Splendor” engrosses with its delicate, spacious tonal consistency, treading calmer waters with reflective prowess. Resembling a dynamic film soundtrack in its shifts between bliss and ardor, SM-02 is another excellent album from Bright Shining Lights.
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We discovered this release via MusoSoup.
