Lights has recently released an acoustic album titled “Midnight Machines” with six acoustic versions of songs off her 2014 album “Little Machines” and an additional two new songs. Fans were wondering when there would be an acoustic version of “Little Machines” just about the same day it came out. They can finally be satisfied because “Midnight Machines” is dressed to impress
anywhere she goes.
As expected, the acoustic guitars on this album are marvelously recorded. Personally, I’m still searching for the secret of such great recordings. The whole record has many textures of live instrumentation such as acoustic guitar, a string quartet, a Wurlitzer and live drums all while retaining the record’s great sense of space. Having acoustic versions of songs really adds an intimate perspective into the songs released previously on “Little Machines.” This in turn may allow the songs to reach more people in a different way than the electronic based versions may have. Acoustic versions have the power to make the songs feel more real and personable to people, especially to those less familiar with electronic based music. There’s something about acoustic songs that you can’t consciously deny due to any preconceived notions or genre stigma.
At times, there are many layers of Lights’ vocals stacked to sound like a chorus singing with great intensity. The overall record is very dynamic and it feels very cohesive as if each track blends seamlessly into the other without all of the songs necessarily “sounding the same.” “Up We Go” on “Little Machines” is a very intense, upbeat and big song and yet on this acoustic version it still retains its driving forward motion. I don’t pick musical favorites but the songs “Running With The Boys” and “Meteorites” get stuck in my head quite often. A music video for this inspiring song “Meteorites” was released recently and the aesthetic of the film production and the overall tone of the colors of the video are very visually appealing and this video is what mainly drew me to want to listen to the rest of the album.
Overall, the “Midnight Machines” album is very well put together and I always really enjoy Lights’ acoustic songs and covers. “Midnight Machines” will now be my secret weapon for retaining my focus while in the midst of my own creative process. “Midnight Machines” leaves me in a state of trance.
