Lifeguard Nights

CD - Punch Sky

Play 90 second soundbite of 'Sunshine' @ 'CD quality'

One thing's for sure here; New York's Lifeguard Nights don't go a whole bundle on convention!! When this excellent album opened I was straight away reminded of The Zutons; Lifeguard Nights are actually nothing like The Zutons but the energy and punch are very similar. I actually think Lifeguard Nights are more multi-dimensional than The Zutons! These 'guys' feel like 'a family that play together'; there's something safe yet exciting about Lifeguard Nights and 'Punch Sky' feels like a safe-haven where nothing will go wrong and you can stay there as long as you like without fear because Lifeguard Nights will be there for you.

'Punch Sky' is a wonderfully diverse album that never seems to settle into any one single groove or vibe; Lifeguard Nights may drift in and out of rock sub-genre but never really stray far from experimental acceptability. Lifeguard Nights are a bigger than average outfit with anything up to about thirteen members making up the whole. There seems to be a distinct nucleus of about eight with 'friends' and 'associates' drifting in and out of the fold to add their valuable 'two-pennyworth' as and when required. Whatever, it matters not a jot at the end of the day coz Lifeguard Nights have a rich vein of originality running through them and that penchant to diversify will naturally warrant additional assistance from time to time - hey, it obviously works coz 'Punch Sky' is an awesome album.

'Punch Sky' grows as it unwinds; not only is the album a 'grower' in terms of its unputdownable-ness, but it also has an almost organic feel to it as if it builds itself up through clever use of multi-instrumental leads, multi-lead-vocalist, interchangeability - 'Punch Sky' has a sort of multi-facetted thing goin' on! Whatever, whoever, 'Punch Sky' is a splendid trip through the kaleidoscopic mind of songwriter Vincent Brue - quite clearly a very talented, if slightly unusual, man of words and music. Certainly, 'Punch Sky' keeps the listener entertained and 'alive' to the changeability and fluidity of this impressive work. There's nothing staid or 'common-or-garden' about 'Punch Sky' nor Lifeguard Nights for that matter; as the band grow and evolve, so does the music - in fact, 'Punch Sky' feels 'alive', on the move, transient - it feels different every time you enter into its pleasing and refreshing heart. 'Punch Sky' isn't 'cast in concrete' rather it's flexible, transitional, continually morphing into new form, new shape, new sound. Clever stuff indeed coz 'Punch Sky' by Lifeguard Nights wakens the mind, opens up new pleasure-cells and when it draws to a conclusion you're not quite sure where it took you or even where it picked you up - usually a band leave their 'brand' quite clearly in your mind and you're aware of the blend of music you've just heard - not with Lifeguard Nights though; these guys take you somewhere else altogether and you're not sure where it is other than to say it's an enjoyable place to be!

'Punch Sky' by Lifeguard is punchy and energetic, rewarding and enjoyable, friendly and warm and yet 'Punch Sky' is also somewhat baffling and intriguing, an unknown quantity, a loose cannon. Brilliant, different a truly original sound from a truly 'happening' band!

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