Chasing The clouds Away
Coming from Leeds via their formation in Paris in early 2011, City Of Lights is a four piece band that is ready to take over the radio waves. Melodic to the core and with layer upon layer of accessible rock that is certain to find an audience instantly, the quartet's debut album, Seasons Change is an ideal introduction to a band that breathe emotion into each of the track with and enthusiasm that is hard to match.
It is strangely an acoustic number that gets things under way on Seasons Change. With the effortless simplicity of City Of Lights addictive vocal harmonies, Was It All Worth It? instantly hits the spot with foot tapping beats thrown in for good measure, offering a track that is incessant in its pursuit to capture all whilst avoiding the pitfalls of throwing everything at you and hoping something will stick; less if definitely more in this case as the stripped back track showcases City Of Lights accessible sound to great effect.
Did I Stutter finds the band in Snow Patrol territory, a rush of melodic hooks that get under the skin mingled with vocals that ooze emotion and beg for you to join in with them as the up tempo track immediately ticks all the right boxes. More than a mere carbon copy of Snow Patrol though, City Of Lights might wear their influences on their sleeves for all to see but the band still manage to dazzle with their own uniqueness that even on their debut album, promises so much more.
Emotion certainly is at the forefront with the Leeds based band; Honesty bristles with passion whilst Patience marries heartfelt lyrics along with musicianship that literally tugs at the heartstrings and at times seems to say more than other bands could ever dream of lyrically. Then of course come the crowd pleasers that are itching to be played live for an audience to embrace, from the jaunty Sticks And Stones to closer Landscapes that embodies all that City Of Lights is about.
Missing only the bow on top, Seasons Change is perfectly packaged and ready to be devoured by the all. This may be accessible, radio friendly rock but City Of Lights have still managed to retain a freshness to the music which will easily find new fans and whilst some music snobs may scorn, even the most cynical can't deny the allure of the Seasons Change on a warm summers day...fingers crossed will actually get one this year but fear not even if the sun refuses to shine, Seasons Change can chase the clouds away.