When we saw The Mystery Lights live after the release of their amazing self-titled album in 2016, there were only a few dozen other people in attendance. But the longer the American neo-psychedelic rock band was on the road, the more fans they won over, and the songs from those days have now been streamed millions of times. From New York, Mike Brandon (vocals, guitar), Luis Solano (guitar), Alex Amini (bass), Lily Rogers (keys) and Zach Butler (drums) now delight all those fans with a new full-length album, with the ominous title Purgatory. It’s not all doom and gloom, however, as a sense of fun prevails.
The band members may have lost some wildness, but eight years of gain in experience pays off in competence and versatility. What remains are the knack for a good hook and the distinctive vocals in the foreground. Extra attention to detail makes for a richer orchestration, and they dare to slow down and incorporate more styles, giving melody, tension and emotion more space. All together it makes this next chapter very worthwhile.
Purgatory, produced by Wayne Gordon, is out now digitally and on vinyl LP through Wick Records.