Black Light Smoke has released The Early Years today via Cut Mistake Music. Written mainly by Jordan Lieb in 2010 and then mixed in 2017 in Nashville during the solar eclipse by the musician and Cut Mistakes’ Connor Whiriskey, the songs on the album harken back to Lieb’s early creative period before reaching prominence as a club-oriented house and techno producer. Reflective of the musician’s interest in a wide variety of genres, including shoegaze, post-punk, and synth-pop, the album is an insightful look into the influences at play in the artist’s now decade-old project.
“The Figure“‘s sparse arrangement and intimate vocal stylings come with a dark tale about love and death. Lieb’s vocals are delivered with a tender but narcotic drawl, even as his lover’s hands tighten around his neck. With its skittering rhythm tracks and minimal but evocative arrangement, ultimately, even in the hands of death, “The Figure” is a “love” song. Sina Taherkhani directs the video for the track, and its difficult imagery is both disturbing and beautiful.
