Bands like 3oh!3 and, I guess, Lights Go Blue aren’t exactly new in infusing dance beats and pop-punk together to create a weird hybrid of music. I remember first coming across Chaser in about 2004 who i signed to my record label and I figured they were probably a year or two ahead of their time. In a sense Lights Go Blue are doing the same thing, fusing dance elements with some synths and electronica and chucking some memorable choruses over the top. I’d describe it as a bit ‘fruity’ in places, a bit forgettable in others. But overall the band are on the right lines – they’re incredibly current and fashionable. If you walked into Top Shop on Oxford St expect to see this band on the video screen as you walk inside.
‘This Is Spectrum’ is a bit hit and miss. ‘Stick To Your Guns‘ is absolutely brilliant; all swirling synth and beats with a very catchy refrain. It’s how the band should go from here on in, in my opinion. That’s juxtaposed by the, frankly, boring ‘Wicked Depths’ which just doesn’t really seem to go anyway and reminds me of a Klaxons b-side. It’s not quick enough and doesn’t feature enough beats, it just never really seems to get going. The band are certainly at their best when they’re quicker and more up-tempo so ‘The Only Way We Look Up’ is listenable and ‘Russian Blue Lagoon’ enjoyable.
Expect Lights Go Blue to attract an army of young fans who enjoy their neon and the likes of Cobra Starship. I think the band have some way to go in ironing out inconsistencies and nailing their own sound, but this isn’t bad, even if it’s not truly great.