Earlier this year Xavier and Rachel Watkins, the husband and wife leaders from Cambridge-based post rockers Fuzzy Lights paused the recording process of their new LP and took a break with their band to the Lake District where they reassessed things and with minimal recording equipment recorded this EP intended for release as a precursor to the main event in an isolated cabin.

Of the four resulting tracks on offer opener ‘Things We Left Behind’ is the dud. The thin processed beats infect the otherwise adequate tune with an awkward rhythm that ruins any chance I have of engaging with the song. The rest of ‘Helm’ though is a resounding success.

If you have are obsessed like me with the likes of Silver Mt. Zion and Godspeed You Black Emperor then ‘Aira’ and the beautifully enchanting ‘Burn With Light’ will enthral you and get you digging out those old Constellation Records releases. The creaky violins and distant choral chants juxtapose with the bright hook laden melodies to create a timeless trio of songs that culminate with ‘Black Diamond’ where Rachel takes a lead vocal role. This song is the folksier of the three and the closest to what fans of the band would recognise as a standard Fuzzy Lights song. The way her vocals are buried creates a haunting edge to the track that although has become common practise today (see the delightful Broadcast and the Focus Group album released last year for evidence of this) still works well enough to leave the listener spooked.

If the band had omitted the drum machine on ‘Things We Left Behind’ they would find themselves here with a near perfect EP as any band in any era or location could ever dream of making. Even with its opening affliction ‘Helm’ must be considered nothing short of a flawed masterpiece.


Track Listing