ALOHA
LIGHT WORKS
POLYVINYL/
WORDS: LOGAN HALLEY-WINSETT

Aloha isn’t the kind of band that stops you in your tracks with originality, usually, but the lullaby-rock on Light Works makes up for that with its singular, spot-on serenity. Where the music is single-minded, the band is scattered, with members hailing from Cleveland, Brooklyn, Rochester, and D.C. It's taken them 10 years to this point, their sixth album, but Light Works is a great place to start for new fans looking for their soporific fix.

Finger-picked hooks and a gentle oscillating momentum both pique and sooth the mind as these songs lull listener. Very amiable; I’d go so far as to dub it “fireplace rock”. This is the soundtrack for the Normal Rockwell movie that never was. None of the pieces here are particularly grandiose and none of them really differ too much from one another; sweeping movements of piano over guitar plucks and light drum beats remain consistent throughout. The vocals are reminiscent of James Mercer or Isaac Brock but the harmonies create a nice croon that is original to Aloha’s sound. A run-time of only thirty minutes keeps the listener from getting antsy without sacrificing any satiating quality. A couple stand-out tracks, “The End” and “Gold World,” pack a little extra punch that propels the album forward, if still at a gentler pace than most.

Light Works doesn’t tread any new ground; the hook and keys are things we’ve heard before. They have a sound similar to relative-newcomers The Shins. However, they seem comfortable with their style. The mixing of the album is impeccable and clean and reflects a tangible cohesion on all their songs. The music proceeds at a walk, not at a run, and wears its composure on its sleeve. Depending on your point of view, that's either boring or comforting. My generous ear leans toward the latter.