Son Lux - Bones

Son Lux
Bones
2015

There is a hell of a lot going on with this record. Each track bombards you with electronic noise creating a wall of sound that somehow borders on Indie Rock and Trance. At the same time Bones can be frustratingly off key and off kilter, but then also pleasant. This record makes you uncomfortable and safe in the same track, they can all at once be soothing and challenging. It really is quite an interesting listen. When you find out that Ryan Lott is a classically trained pianist the music begins to make more sense. Lott is using his classical nature to compose songs that are layer upon layer upon layer or electronic sound much like someone directing an orchestra. His breathy soft vocals create an almost complete contrast between the largeness of the sound. The occasional violin or other analogue instrument act as almost a resting spot between the aggressive electronics that fill the record.

"White Lies" can almost sum up the whole record. It starts as quite beautiful and light then descends into a dark aggressive almost schizophrenic tone. Slavery seems to be the overarching theme on this record especially on "Now I Want", whether that is a slavery of real outside oppression or that which exists in our mind. Son Lux seems to be quite concerned with the life we are living and where or not we are taking advantage of choices or simply living as victims of them. Not exactly the kind of stuff you want to sing along to in your car but an artist taking a stand musically is always nice to hear from a world filled with pop hooks and bass drops. Bones much like the title says is the structure of something quite beautiful, a work that Ryan Lott seems to have put a lot of time and a great deal of thought into. Check out Bones, but don't expect any one else to.

7.9 out of 10