LUMINANCE

A very nice discovery! Luminance is the one man project of (DA) from Brussels. This singer and multi-instrumentist proposes a debut EP called "The Light Is Ours" and it's very interesting! It's a blend of synth-pop, minimal wave, cold-wave with touches of psychedelia. Echoing drums, vaporous vocals, droning bass lines, sparkling analog synth melodies: you think of OMD and The Cure, but more modern, in the direction of Led Er Est and Martial Canterel.

The track "Facts Without Emotions" is a fantastic song, a real upbeat dancefloor killer! You also get more experimental songs, like "Rare Are The Ones": the slow, hypnotic beat and heavy reverberating vocals convey a deep ghost-wave feeling, a but like In Death It Ends or The Soft Moon. "Exercise", on the other hand, is an... exercise in style reminiscent of Kraftwerk with its robotic beats and vocoder vocals. "Les Loups" is a beautiful, psychedelic ballad; too bad the guitar riff is more than slightly inspired by Lullaby (The Cure). "The Light Is Ours" has the same ethereal quality and takes you on a nice trip adorned by subtle drum machine sounds and shimmering synthetic tunes.

In a nutshell: a great debut EP. There are still a few imperfections (the English pronounciation?) but if you like modern minimal wave, rush to buy the EP!

Luminance will play at the Péniche Fulmar in Brussels on Monday 16th September, in support of Lebanon Hanover: check the event page.

Listen to the EP on Soundcloud below.

Philippe BLACKMARQUIS
15/09/2013