Lights - Crimson Rain (sampler)
A rock and soul influenced combo hailing from the depths of South London, you can pretty much guess whats coming from some of the titles - "Doom", "The Sky Is Falling", "Grey Sky". It's big, booming, classic rock more than classic soul. There are hints of the blues in "Doom", and the Gomez-esque vocals of Anthony Cunningham are an absolute dream. There's not much in the way of verse-chorus-verse, rather moods slowly building up to an epic finish. A UK Creed, if one can be facile.
Having said that, there is talent here in spades, although the much vaunted hip-hop influences must have been too subtle for me, as I only really noticed it during "Crimson Rain". However, "Back" is their "Arms Wide Open". All they need know is a video filmed on top of a cliff, with the wind howling, lightning flashing, thunder rolling and the American mid-west will be theirs for the taking. Then we can look forward to the Vegas years as they all acquire drug habits, model wives and an overwhelming urge to tell us about their 'damaged' childhoods. Rock and roll!
