Lights' full-length debut
The Listening finds vocalist/songwriter Valerie Poxleitner delivering a steady flow of gentle indie-electronic alt-rock that showcases her sweet voice. Bringing to mind a more subdued
Cyndi Lauper, Lights' music leans heavily toward melodic and catchy midtempo anthems that percolate and chirp with keyboards, beats, and light electric guitar accents. In that sense, Lights sounds something along the lines of a
Daft Punk-junior dorm room chanteuse. To these ends, tracks like the brightly pulsating lead-off cut, "Saviour," and the hard-house-lite of "River" make for perfect late-night, low-key disco hits. Similarly engaging are such mid-album cuts like the
Kylie Minogue-esque "Ice" and the yearning '90s R&B-infused "Second Go." Heartfelt and warm for sure, but Lights'
The Listening may just move more than your heart. ~ Matt Collar