York 4- piece release hotly anticipated debut album.
Since announcing the release of their debut album, What You Are, excitement has reached fever pitch. From the point of forming, it’s taken Skylights 14 years to get to this point and boy has it been worth the wait.
It’s an album full of thrillers and no fillers and is a huge statement of intent from a band who are destined for big things.
Kicking off with Outlaw, a fast paced and energetic anthem, showcasing the influence that punk has had on the band. The electric guitar riff has been borrowed from The Cult‘s “She Sells Sanctuary” which the band have well and truly made their own.
“We feel immensely proud and lucky to be releasing our debut album now, it’s the culmination of years of work, but for a while we abandoned the band and only reformed by chance. What’s happened since is amazing, such a passionate response from fans, there is a real buzz. The LP is a mix of old and new songs, with everything fine-tuned for the album release, we hope the fans love it – we really could not do this without them, that’s why we titled the album WHAT YOU ARE, it just fitted – we are what the fans are, they give us the platform”
Turnball Smith
Nothing Left to Say sees the tempo drop ever so slightly, but features a huge soaring song-along chorus with great harmonies. Everything about this song screams “arena ready”.
What You Are is full of swagger and is a real feel good tune. Big guitar riffs, big pounding drums and the tempo is picked up again. Another big anthem!
Britannia is driven by big pounding drums and a guitar riff that is totally hypnotic. Written in 2012 to coincide with the London Olympic. Fantastic lyrics.
Darkness Falls is an acoustic ballad and is a song that every band will be wishing they had written. The string arrangements played by Julia Violinista are sublime and classy and just show another side to the band not seen before.
Enemies has been a huge fan favourite for sometime and epitomises what the band is all about. High-tempo, energetic, pounding drums, thumping bass and riffs galore. The lyrics are iconic and relatable to many:
“Breaking outta school cos we were high, Kicking down doors just a you and I, Enemies they’ve got to know, Dream those dreams don’t let ’em go”
YRA is another fan favourite, particularly when played live and is played ahead of every Leeds United home game. The chorus has a real Primal Scream vibe, with adds to the dance and baggy appeal, it’s another high point in an album that is full of them.
Lifeline continues the dance theme, thanks to those pounding drums and the relentless guitar riff. You can hear the likes of The Chemical Brothers doing an incredible remix of this.
Take Me Somewhere sees the band pick up the pace and is one of the bands oldest tracks. The lyrics are full of hope and trying new things. There‘s a bit of a punk vibe about the song thanks to the great guitar riffs.
Driving Me Away is an acoustic ballad and great way to end the album. The strings just give the song an atmospheric feel. Lyrically the song explores being in a relationship it being on and off: you cant live with them, but can let live without them.
What You Are is a superb debut album, full of great guitar riffs, relatable lyrics and feel good anthems, which will surely feature high on peoples albums of the year lists. Skylights are well and truly a band destined for the big time!
What You Are gets its vinyl and CD release on Friday 6th May and can be purchased from 42 Records online store here. The album will be available to stream from Friday 13th March.
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