The Glory Reverb release a soft yet well-constructed track in Shine A Light, focussing on the lyrics to create the emotional atmosphere.
New York rock band The Glory Reverb have really stripped it back for latest single Shine A Light. With Rachel Gaveletz’s vocals against the piano being the mainstay throughout, it shows off a more subtle approach to much of the bands earlier work on the debut album, No Time Soon. This allows the listener to really take in the lyrics and enjoy the atmosphere in a more meaningful way.
With the gentle piano opening, Gaveletz has time to let her vocals settle in and welcome the listener with warm and docile tones. Her soothing vocals suit the atmosphere of the track well with the lyrics, to begin with, seemingly focussed on finding the good in any situation: “Shine a light in the evening before you move along, shine a light in the darkness before you go”.
Saying this, the track still has more than a dose of the melancholy without the feel-good factor with Gaveletz able to bring out the pain and emotional turmoil that are prevalent within. As the piano chords mix it up, we’re introduced to soft and subtle flutters of backing synths and rising string-like sections that ebb and flow with the nature of the track. These get stronger and more vibrant as the song progresses with the musical influences in the track’s more vibrant sections reminiscent of the more laid-back pieces of Elton John’s work.
The song is never overplayed and relies on the haunting piano lines and strength of Gaveletz’s voice to get its messages across, and by the finish, you’re thankfully left with a more positive outcome than what was felt at the beginning. At times you do feel like a more powerful and layered chorus section could really help bring the song out of its shell, but, on the other hand, this could take away from the solemn nature the music thrives in, so it would be a difficult feature to get right.
Shine A Light is a track that does a good job in portraying a sleek and gentle atmosphere brought to life by lyrics of pain and, ultimately, acceptance. With a gentle flow that builds only slightly throughout, it manages to entice the listener and hold their attention through to the end. It will be interesting to see where the band goes next with a fuller sound, which I’m guessing we’ll find out in the near future.
Score: 3/5
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