B-Side Guys

The Speak Low’s latest offering, “Lights In The Sky,” is a kaleidoscopic journey through the murky waters of human emotion, wrapped in a sonic package that’s equal parts grit and glitter. This Sacramento-based outfit, fronted by the enigmatic songwriter known simply as The Speak Low, has crafted a track that feels like a fever dream set to music – disorienting, beautiful, and oddly comforting all at once.

From the outset, “Lights In The Sky” grabs you by the eardrums and refuses to let go. The instrumentation swirls and eddies like a psychedelic maelstrom, with Lewis Beck’s lead guitar cutting through the chaos like a lighthouse beam piercing through fog. It’s as if Modest Mouse and Radiohead decided to jam together after a particularly intense ayahuasca ceremony.

Lyrically, The Speak Low treads a fine line between hope and despair. “She found a way / To stay beautiful / Locked in a cage / So beautiful” he intones, painting a picture of beauty that’s both alluring and disturbing. The recurring imagery of light – “You’re my light / In my sky” – serves as a counterpoint to the darker undertones, creating a tension that mirrors the push and pull of human relationships.

The song’s structure mirrors its thematic content, building from a relatively straightforward verse-chorus pattern into a swirling, repetitive mantra: “So beautiful / You take aim.” This final section feels like a descent into madness or perhaps a transcendent moment of clarity – it’s up to the listener to decide which. The ambiguity is part of the charm, inviting multiple interpretations and repeated listens.

As the first full-band release from their upcoming EP, “Lights In The Sky” serves as a tantalizing preview of The Speak Low’s evolution. It’s a far cry from the lo-fi demos of “Sorry I Fell Asle…EP” or “DEMOnS,” showcasing a band that’s found its footing in the treacherous terrain of experimental rock. If this track is any indication, their upcoming EP promises to be a mind-bending trip through the psyche of one of Sacramento’s most intriguing musical entities. Strap in, keep your eyes on those lights in the sky, and prepare for liftoff.