Lamplight

Lamplight the album was released by Lamplight the band, at the end of March at a sold out launch at Melbourne’s Northcote Social Club, a few weeks later, the first single Ship in A Bottle reached # 1 on Triple J’s Unearthed Charts.

Lamplight’s self titled release – long player number two for the band – has a beautiful eeriness about it. So when you find out that two tracks (track 3 and track 4) were recorded throughout Old Castlemaine Gaol (Vic), it tends to make sense.

This dynamic, ambient idea for a setting to record in, forms a precedent as to what you are in store for on this old time nautical themed album, that indeed thrashes and crashes like stormy waves here and lulls a sense of calm waters there. On Lamplight – the album - you are in for an astounding journey of musical arrangement. This Melbourne 5 piece know how to make sounds. They do it like it is their science.

“We went up to a property in the Castlemaine area, and set up base in this barn. We got up at 5.30 or 6am, went up and set up outside the shed, and there were all these morning birds as the sun was coming up. A symphony. It was one of my favourite music moments ever. Recording is generally quite horrible and sterile and nerve racking and performance killing. But being in that environment makes you forget about all that “ as Mijo Biscan, Lamplight’s vocalist and guitarist has explained.

In 2004 Biscan, Kirsty Morphett – vocals, piano, Indiana Avent – violin, flute, clarinet, Luke Richardson – double bass, released The Fish Will Walk as Lamplight’s debut album. Two national tours later, an expanded listener-ship and live performances with Blue Bottle Kiss, Love Outside Andromeda, Silver Ray and Carus to name a few, the quartet recruited Alex Rogowski and in return have the addition of a drummer on the 2nd LP.

All Lamplight members provide harmonies on the self titled new album. Featured too is accordion, nylon string guitar and vibraphone. A horn section emerges throughout Lamplight. The whistling, stomping and na, na, na’s that we hear on Swallowing The Key were performed and recorded in the area leading up to the solitary confinement area of the old gaol.

While Biscan is lead volcalist on the majority of the album, Kirsty’s calming, yet evocative and powerful voice is beautifully placed on Capsize and Time Is Now.

On listening to Lamplight’s new album, you understand why each member is necessary – no instrument is overtaken by the other – they each have their place, and what a commanding place it is. And yes, they are more than capable of doing it all live, their sold out launch and the reviews that followed are testament to this.

The later part of 2008 will see Lamplight tour Europe, but in the short term, witness this Folk Rock Orchestra in Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane and Sydney.

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