Violent Light [CD]

After garnering wide critical acclaim for their 2011 album Glowing Mouth, Milagres have returned with an exciting new endeavor. Violent Light, out February 25, 2014 on Kill Rock Stars, finds the bands melodic sensibilities intact, but with rougher edges. Singer Kyle Wilson weaves together his falsetto and lower registers as seamlessly as he always has, but the songs on this album have more of a sense of urgency. With the departure of multi-instrumentalist Eric Schwortz and the addition of kinetic drummer Paul Payabab the band has become a four-piece, and this stripped-down lineup has translated to the music: the songs are somewhat more crystalline, more hard-edged than on the previous album, without losing any of the beauty. First single The Letterbomb is a great example of this. Wilsons voice wanders over and through a musical landscape punctuated by Payababs snapping, near-funk rhythms, while found-sound voices and piano hover hauntingly in the mix. Its a dreamy, psychedelic landscape with a solid heartbeat, no easy feat for any band. Recorded at home by the band and mixed by wunderkind Andrew Maury (Ra Ra Riot, RAC),Violent Light feels immediate and complex, challenging and welcoming at the same time. Its exciting to think how these songs will come across live, as they really give the band " and the audience " something to sink their teeth into. Praise for Glowing Mouth: "The band's sound is something like a spiritual experience: lo-fi and heartfelt. With influences ranging from Prince to Peter Gabriel, the band could just as easily be compared to Radiohead, Grizzly Bear, or Bon Iver." - Interview Magazine "Damn...I'm speechless. That was perfection. Wow. I found my new favorite album and it's not even out until September" - John Richards, KEXP.

• Format Detail: Gatefold CD Wallet
• Format: CD
• Genre: Rock