Until the Colours Run

With a bruised sort of heroism, Lanterns on the Lake defy the darkness on their sophomore album, Until the Colours Run. The British trio survived the loss of two founding members to craft a work that noticeably expands their sonic horizons. Lead singer Hazel Wilde shows increased confidence; this album brings out both the melancholy and defiance embedded in her lyrics. The album’s arrangements combine a soundtrack-like spaciousness (evident in the rumbling feedback intro to “Elodie” and the luminous piano/string setting of “Picture Show”) with ethereal folk-pop textures reminiscent of The Sundays and Cocteau Twins (most apparent on the swooning “You Soon Learn”). “The Buffalo Days” is notable for its volatile mix of electric and acoustic sounds, reflecting the fission of emotions running through the track. Wilde and her comrades use these bracing sonic settings to do more than muse about private concerns. “Another Tale from Another English Town” is a particularly scathing commentary on modern Britain.