Search - Locust :: Morning Light

A Cut Above...

M. Conklin | Illinois, USA | 07/27/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"most of mark van hoen's material under the locust alias has been instrumental ambient music. morning light is still ambient music, but it's also a vocal album. more surprisingly, it's a pop album. it's not radio pop, but thinking saint etienne without the happy, retro slant wouldn't be a stretch. it's got a dark, modern sound to it. thankfully, locust has avoided any hint of the stale sounds of trip-hop that plague every other vocal release anymore. instead a synth-based ambient backdrop and drum loops have been laid down and covered with flute, acoustic guitar, bass, trumpet, organ, bells, etc. the vocalists (both male and female)casually add to the ambiance, usually whispering more than singing. at times the music is rooted in acoustic folk or new age, other times it's electronic drum and bass. not all of the songs work well, especially the simple folk tunes, but at least they are never loud or pushy. it's a very quiet album with dreamy, laid back sensibilities."