Short Reviews [League of Lights - 2021 - "Dreamers Don't Come Down"]

Formed in 2010 by Farrah and Richard West, this is their third album but the first I have come across. For those who may think the name of Richard is familiar, that is because alongside Karl Groom he is the only person who has played on every one of the mighty Threshold’s albums. Mind you, anyone seeking these out looking for another prog metal masterpiece will be in for quite a shock as this is electronic pop rock which also contains a large element of piano. It is hard to believe that next year will be the 30th anniversary of the release of Threshold’s debut album, ‘Wounded Land’, and while I have also come across Richard in projects such as Mercy Train it has always been working in a progressive field so to hear this is something of a revelation. With Richard providing the keyboards and Farrah the vocals, they have combined in a manner which is commercial, yet also inviting to people like me who normally stay well clear of this style of music. It is electronic, yet there are plenty of times where one can “hear” this becoming much more of a rocker, with “I Still Remember” a case in point. This is an album of real songs, with wonderful arrangements, and what makes this stand out even more are the superb vocals from Farrah. There is no strain, just great singing with plenty of different styles on offer, with following the melody from Richard or taking it in quite different directions. It is fresh, invigorating, and I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this the very first time I played it. This is not a style of music I generally listen to, but here is an album I can see myself playing a great deal as Farrah’s vocals and Richard’s playing combine to make something quite special. I sought this album out due to Richard’s involvement, and I must confess that if I had been offered it without knowing who was playing, I probably would have declined even listening to it. As it is, I have been fortunate enough to come across what for me is a revelation, and if like me you would not normally listen to anything described as electronic rock or dream pop then I urge you to take a trip to Bandcamp and give this a listen as it really is a delight from beginning to end.