Music review: Skye and Ross: ‘Light of Gold’
It鈥檚 aways good to venture outside your comfort zone from time to time.
This rule also applies to musical tastes. With so many albums of various styles released every week, it鈥檚 easy to allow a few gems to slip through the cracks and into permanent obscurity. But not this particular week.
Prior to my recent trip to see Jonny Lang and Buddy Guy perform in Mississippi, I discovered a new album that changed the way I thought about electronica.
Twenty years after Morcheeba鈥檚 debut release, members Skye Edwards and Ross Godfrey embark together to pursue new musical interests.
The duo鈥檚 debut release found its way onto my playlist with low expectations.
After a first listen, I was quickly drawn toward the absorbing offering that blends various musical styles of trip-hop, pop, blues and electronica into one unique sound.
鈥淟ight of Gold鈥� is the album鈥檚 stripped-down first single that comes across effortlessly and comforting with the help of Edwards鈥� dreamy vocals that simply steal the show.
A cosmic vibe ushers in 鈥淗ow to Fly鈥� as the number transitions into Talking Heads mode on the engaging track with Godfrey鈥檚 guitar solo unexpectedly interrupting the hypnotic beat.
鈥淐lear My Head鈥� and 鈥淗ead Home鈥� are haunting tracks that architect an acoustic aura of beauty previously delivered by Ann and Nancy Wilson on classic Heart tracks like 鈥淒reamboat Annie鈥� and 鈥淒og & Butterfly.鈥�
A sense of surreal beauty surrounds 鈥淗old On鈥� and makes it a perfect fit for any David Gilmour or Kate Bush album.
鈥淔eet First鈥� pulsates and seduces as Edwards delivers a vocal performance reminiscent of Donna Summer on her vintage disco track 鈥淚 Feel Love.鈥�
鈥淭he Point of No Return鈥� methodically brings the 10-song set to a gracious close with Edwards announcing, 鈥淚 have crossed the river/Past the point of no return.鈥�
I know the feeling well. After listening to this captivating creation, a new band and musical style have been permanently added to my music catalog.