Detailed Reviews [Beam-Light - 2008 - "Beam-Light"]

Prolusion. Polish band Beam-Light appears to be the creative vehicle of composer and musician Aleksandra Dudziak, and was formed back in 2005. The band's sole album so far, "Beam-Light", was released through Polish label Lynx Music in 2008. As far as I know, the band is still active at the time these words are written.

Analysis. Beam-Light is something of an odd one as far as bands are concerned, as their chosen type of music is one that doesn't readily fit into any of typical genre conventions. Most of the songs are pretty easy going affairs in terms of structure, with a verse and chorus orientation and few developments in terms of tempo changes or rhythm changes or other traits of a more sophisticated nature. The instrument backing at times has something of a funky vibe to it, but without really taking it to a greater level. The arrangements are also fairly straight forward, with steady drums and bass supporting a mainly unobtrusive guitar presence and piano, keyboard textures or both. The vocals adds a more complex detail however, with a mode of delivery that is unconventional and theatrical alternating between a more singing-like delivery and spoken-like delivery in a distinctly theatrical manner, and in a fairly expressive manner at that. Imagine two thirds Toyah Wilcox and a dash of Kate Bush and possibly Annie Lennox and you'll be close. Hence the vocal aspect of this totality comes with a distinct art pop presence, so to speak. And in the smaller details department, I did note that few of the songs were given a rhythm foundation with a distinct folk music or tribal orientation, and one of the songs, 'Set Sebu Sa', struck me as being pretty close to a religious chant, a hymn or possibly a prayer. In the grand scale of things this album is probably better suited to be referenced in a progressive rock context than in a pop/rock one, due to the slightly off kilter elements that makes the total impression closer to the former than the latter. And in my mind, art pop would be the proper designation for this album, given this reasoning. Other than that I'd say that the songs by and large are engaging and well performed numbers. Dudziak's voice appears to have a slight accent, and a few of the songs aren't quite to the standard of the rest, but overall an enjoyable and well made debut album.

Conclusion. Beam-Light's sole album from 13 years back is if not a creative and expressive product then at least an album with slightly off kilter nuances to it. Neither a fish nor a bird, but with elements borrowed from both. It is a well made specimen of it's kind however, and if art pop on the slightly unusual side of things is music that sounds interesting then tracking down this album may well be worth it.

Progmessor: July 2021
The Rating Room