Sweet Lights

Sweet Lights is the musical project of Philadelphia multi-instrumentalist Shai Halperin, former frontman for the critically lauded band The Capitol Years. Sweet Lights finds Halperin crafting mellower songs trimmed in bygone '60s tones. Drawing equal influence from Pink Floyd (in song structure) and The Byrds (in vocal harmonies), the opening “Message on the Wire” plays like Dark Side of the Moon's “Breathe” as played through the shimmering jangle of what sounds like an old Rickenbacker guitar. The following “Are We Gonna Work It Out” is a somewhat incredulous response to The Beatles’ “We Can Work It Out.” But rather than succumb to a mock-moptop, sing-along slice of Merseybeat, Halperin takes a more innovative approach by layering progressive arrangements over pitter-patter beats. He brilliantly contrasts '60s-based melodies and harmonies with the kind of forward-thinking approach that would've won over the late, great Bill Doss of Olivia Tremor Control. The beautifully spooky “Waterwell” stands out with the gorgeous melancholy of a Chris Bell tune, before “Here Comes the Son” closes like The Kinks hijacking The Beatles’ songbook.