Lane 8 - Brightest Lights

Lane 8

Brightest Lights

2020

Spotify

Lane 8's version of deep house is just a little different from the rest. Sure, He kinda sounds like Odesza or maybe something reminds you of Nora en Pure, but in the end Lane 8's music feels uniquely his own. There are exhuberent moments, pensive moments and other times where you sort of want to sit with the music and let it wash over you. This is a weird place to land for a "dance" album where you expect nothing but high highs. That's what makes Lane 8 so special, He doesn't feel that pressure with his music, He allows it to just flow. You also get this from his seasonal mixtapes featuring his own new music as well as other artists. He puts them out almost without fail at the change of every season to the delight of fans. He is able to capture such emotion without words like on "Just" where it takes almost two minutes for the beat to fully evolve. Once the song comes together it is this ecstatic release of energy that doesn't take a lot of noise to be super powerful. It might be weird to say this, but having been to a few Lane 8 shows at this point it is almost better to be there alone. Hearing his music solo just adds this really introspective dimension that you don't get with a crowd. It makes you want to close your eyes and let the music take you where you are supposed to go. 

Lane 8 has collaborated with Poliça before, but on this album they really seem to hit a great stride. Her haunting but gentle voice blends so well with his beats that the two mold into one. This album feels like the push that electronic music needs at the moment, and music in general for that matter. Things need to be lighter and come with a bit more emotional energy that what Pop music has been giving us of late. Lane 8 hasn't changed but maybe the world is finally coming around to the light side. Don't sleep on this record. 

8.2 out of 10