The Lighthouse and the Whaler

Although they have been around for over 5 years, I was only recently lucky enough to discover The Lighthouse and the Whaler.  Since releasing their first EP in 2008 (A Whisper, A Clamour), this Indie-Pop band from Cleveland, Ohio has made their way onto TV and Radio.  While the band started in a field (yep, a field), originators Michael LoPreshi and Aaron Smith have come a long way.

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Their most recent release, “This Is An Adventure” pays homage to their beginnings in the field.  The video for their single and intro track features them plunging through a lush forest, skidding down rocky mountains and enjoying the beach.  The song itself, “Pioneer”, features a rolling, restless percussion, under lyrics nostalgic of a time “before age impaired our reach.” The final minute of the song begins with a sparse, spacious, floating bridge that slowly builds and drives through the end.  You can imagine a kid looking over the edge of a cliff into the peaceful water, and slowly building the adrenaline and reckless abandon to let go and jump.

The remaining nine tracks are each individually unique and interesting, held together by a souring vocal, extensive vamping and an enticing assortment of synths and sounds.  “The Adriatic” is a great example of The Lighthouse’s choppy, stop-and-go melodies, that all seem to resolve pleasantly in the end.

The perfectly-penned melody and lyrics of the chorus tie together beautifully the unsteady nature of the verses:

I could feel it like the world was coming down/ All my words were losing traction and their sound/ I hope you listen as my phrasing comes unwound/ I have a hope that says, ‘I will never forget’” 

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“Venice” is another special track, with almost every element of the song laid out in a fragmented, staccato manner, from the guitar to the percussion and melody, under the sustained vocal crooning “Why don’t we fall in love?”

The title track, “This Is An Adventure” completes the idea of longing for the fun and freedom of childish exploits, saying “You wish in silence, you sing in tremors.  Let yourself off, just like when you were young.”

I could say more, but I’ll let you enjoy your own adventure exploring The Lighthouse and the Whaler, a band with a childish energy and a unique understanding of the adventures of life and love.

Here are links to their official website, Facebook, Bandcamp and Soundcloud.

Adam Palmer is half of the awesome indie pop duo The Last City, that got featured in Flowers In A Gun last month. Check out the article about them here.