It only takes the first two minutes of ‘Cubic’ to convince you that Japanese math-rock quartet LITE are worthy of your time. As the brain-scrambling riff of opener ‘Else’ wanders agnostically through time-signatures, the technical proficiency alone is worthy of admiration, but more remarkable is the way the band are able to create hooks and groove amidst the chaos of free-form song structures.
The math-rock genre has become so synonymous with impressive musicianship that clever instrumentation alone is no longer a differentiator but more of an entry requirement. LITE recognise this and focus instead on finding ways to embellish their musical competence with unexpected moments of creativity, allowing ‘Cubic’ to avoid the genre’s common problem of being easy to appreciate, but tedious to listen to in large doses.
‘Balloon’ is a perfect representation of what sets this record apart. Despite the weird patterns and sequences of the guitars, the track dances along in a heartbeat thanks to the groove and dynamics of the rhythm section, which unites the song into something memorable and cohesive.
‘Warp’ is one of the few tracks containing vocals and while it’s nice to hear a different layer (and some native Japanese language) the singing doesn’t add anything special to a song that would be equally good without it. ‘D’ is one of the more unique tracks on the album, lifted by a trumpet section that, when met with the jangly, upbeat guitar chords, borders on being ska. It’s a catchy and infectious vibe that proves LITE are not only adept at playing with structures and timings, but instruments as well, all while staying true to their signature sound.
Although ‘Cubic’ is unapologetically littered with complex riffs and timings, LITE never forget the importance of creating songs above all else. It’s so easy for math-rock bands to get carried away with discovering new polyrhythms and guitar-tapping patterns, they lose sight of the need to create cohesive compositions. LITE are here to remind you that as long as there’s a strong groove and clear message to anchor back to, there’s no limit to how creative you can be. ‘Cubic’ is a refreshing wake-up call to the math-rock scene and one that sets this band apart from their peers.
MARK JOHNSON