..No Disneyland Attraction

Modern kraut rock doesn’t get much better than this! Eat Lights Become Lights are a trio from London masterminded by multi-instrumentalist Neil Rudd. On the band ’s debut long player Autopia, the audio magicians of ELBL channel the shimmering, synthesizer fronted second coming of Ash Ra Tempel (think Correlations and Blackouts) and add just a dash of solar ambience in the key of Neu. What differentiates ELBL from their contemporaries is in the band ’s addition of bombastic volume swells that are fully complimented by the lively drum attack of Adam Jacobs and Paul Lewis ’ throbbing bass groove. These heavier components of sound lead to ear popping heights amongst the electronic vibrancy and psychedelic guitar haze of more aggressive numbers like “Dark Matter/Light Hearts” and “Konstellation”; where mood enhancing, epic rock structuring is enveloped by a wall of looping electronics and grand-scale, atmospheric tension. It ’s nice to see the band insert taut dynamics into the record’s framework, taking on the form of the above-mentioned tracks, as much of Autopia is an upbeat, uplifting affair full of hymnal drones and astoundingly pretty key work. 

Still, even when the band chooses to focus on meandering openness in their synth basted compositions they ’ll congeal on a fine, rock n’ roll groove in just the right moments such as the ending to “They Transmit” and “Harmonic”. Also if you can make it through the bouncing, Tangerine Dream tendencies of “White Horses” and not even crack the slightest smile at the overwhelmingly pleasant sounds coming through your speakers, you might ought to start painting your nails black and putting on some heavy layers of oppressively colored eyeliner. You ’re either too depressed to be moved by this kind of glowing magic, or you’re clinically dead. You’ve got a problem either way. All followers of the elder guard of krautrock, here’s your first must hear disc of the new decade. The thrilling, transcendental surge of Ash Ra Tempel, Tangerine Dream and Neu is in good hands with the boys of ELBL, but the thicker rhythms and occasionally tempestual guitar wizard-y is sure to please fans of modern journeymen including Zombi and Titan. Regardless, of your era of preference, Autopia is a masterpiece and a surefire runner for my personal top ten lists this year …no matter what comes after it!
From; BadAcidMagazine by Jason Snyder

Links;
Eat Lights Become Lights - Autopia
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Eat Lights Become Lights
Eat Lights Become Lights @ MySpace
Enraptured Records