The Luxembourg Signal
The Luxembourg Signal
“Distant Drive” 7”
(Shelflife)
When I
bought The Luxembourg’s debut 7” single, “Distant Drive,” earlier this spring, I
had no idea that much of the band used to make up Sarah Records staple Aberdeen from back in the day. I simply knew that “Distant Drive” is an infectious and
lovely song that perfectly fits its theme.
It makes for a great song to kick off a long road trip with its
insistent drum beat and repetitive guitar riff literally carrying us along for
the ride. Likewise, the B-side, “Wishing
Pool,” (also included on the LP in a mildly different version) captured my
adoration by being simple, catchy, and dreamy all at the same time.
So, now,
finally, comes their self-titled debut full length and their long shared
history as professional musicians proves why this band sound so seasoned and
have offered up such a rewarding and fully realized album. What is surprising is that though they share
a history with the very reserved Sarah Records bands, this album takes away
that beauty, but brings along a healthy dose of rock and roll edge. Any question regarding this can be dismissed
by the appearance of Melvins drummer
Dale Crover on the absolutely
pounding and psychedelic “Drowning.” Speaking of psychedelic, this album has a few
songs that harkens back to the late 80s UK indie scene where bands began to
embrace at least tinges of psychedelics into their sound. It makes me think of the Mighty Lemon Drops (oh, and look, former Lemon Drop David Newton helped record this album!)
crossed with The Heart Throbs. Check out the dreamy and trippy expanse of
the opening “Dying Star” for a flashback or the atmospheric passages of “First
Light,” before the power chords during the bridge.
However,
it’s the wistful focused pop songs like the two from the 7” single that really
have me grinning from ear to ear. The Beth Arzy fronted “She Loves to Feel
the Sun” sounds exactly like an amazing lost Trembling Blue Stars song gone into overdrive (Arzy sang several
songs on the last few TBS albums) and is one of the best songs I’ve heard all
year! Speaking of which, the penultimate
“We Go On” is also a contender for great song of the year. “We Go On” begins with a crisp build up that
reminds of Cerulean era
Ocean Blue, but with the beautiful voices of
Betsy Moyer and Beth Arzy leading us
into a fantastic timeless chorus. Both
of these songs fill me with warmth and a chill as they simultaneously present great
hopes and dreams and missed opportunities and longing.
Finally, the
album closes with the amazing and bitter “Let it Go,” whose knowing words straddle
the line between escapism (“let it go / we’re lying in the sun”) and the desire
to fight against the constraints that we all live in - in order to make a
living and get by in this world (“and shove you aside”), despite the potential
soul sucking side effects (“swallow your pride / till you feel nothing
inside”). It’s a battle that most of us
fight to some degree every day, but it’s still comforting to hear an
understanding voice convey the feeling atop a very tasteful tune.
This debut album
by the Luxembourg Signal feels like the return of an old long lost friend. It makes me wistful for old times, bitter
about what I’ve lost along the way, but thankful and hopeful for what is yet to
come. Do yourself a favor and buy this
album.
The Luxembourg Signal "She Loves to Feel the Sun"
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