Under Electric Light's After The Blue EP is a blast of shoegazing revivalry that sounds like the best record Ride never recorded. In the short span of four songs this little EP pretty much takes all the best elements of the once famous Oxford band and blends them into a mesmerizing mix of ethereal goodness. After The Blue is truly awesome in it's aspirations and it's flattery of who they hold dear.
The songs on this depressingly short record blow by in a breezy, barely there manner and tend to run into each other sounding like a miasmic combination of washed out guitars and whispered vocals. It's sweet stuff whose heart yearns to be liked and loved. Truth be told, it's not really that hard to do especially with such enchanting songs. From the first note of "Rainy Days," to the slightly depressing, "Wintertime," Under Electric Light weave a spellbinding tapestry of pop songs that are transparent, moody, and charming. After The Blue is a fabulous single that clearly belongs aside all the Ride records in your collection. Essential stuff really.
The Pop! Stereo
"It feels like swimming for a sweet and neverending time into Interpol’s darkest thoughts. Dream Pop that makes you sleep better; shoegazer that helps you smile more honestly. My Bloody Valentine, Slowdive and Death Cab for Cutie kneaded with a very black flour. This is not the ep of the month. This is the album of the year". 5/5
giov –
www.indieforbunnies.com
Danny Provencher is one of those DIY musicians that really should be heard more. Unfortunately, he lives in a town where great bands pop up every day and finding your stride is not an easy process. He performs as Under Electric Light, and you can easily settle into his 80/90's inspired fuzz. I could start naming bands - New Order would be my first jump off point or maybe Ride - but I'd rather just talk about the blissful melancholy his songs create. Countless acts try to put together the simple notes in beautiful combinations, but very few succeed.
His latest EP - After the Blue - is a mere four songs, but the lush compositions will warm the heart of anyone who ever felt depressed and searched for something they could relate to. This Moment starts with bouncy bass line and machine gun drums, but the meat of the song is the nice guitar noodle and textures that wash over you like a wave. Once you settle into the array of sounds, you start to focus on his voice and he's able to make you feel like he's singing directly to you.
He's able to toe the line between aping the greats and finding his own niche. He samples from the catalogs of the artists that shaped modern shoegaze, but his arrangements are a bit more modern, a bit more upbeat.The fuzz is still present, but instead of a smoky club filled with people in black with bad hair his fresher electronics help you hear traces of bands like the Notwists as Provencher's voice wavers flutters between the UK and Scandinavian counties.
All in all, this little four song EP is worth checking out.
Herohill.com
Under Electric Light is the brainchild of Danny Provencher from Montreal, Canada and “After The Blue” is his third self released CDR-EP. These four tracks surely makes you wonder why you haven’t heard of him before, because Under Electric Light is made up on ace pop songs and guitar pop mixed with electronics, topped with a slice of heavenly dreampop feeling. For fans of New Order, The Radio Dept., Silver Screen, Celestial and Starlet. Tracklist: “Rainy Days”, “This Moment”, “Summer’s Feelin Cold” and “Wintertime”. Highly recommended!
Fraction Discs.se
Under Electric Light is a wonderful one-man Montreal-based shoegaze/bedroom/dream pop band. Danny Provencher draws his inspiration from the likes of greats such as New Order, My Bloody Valentine, and the Radio Dept. -- and they all shine through -- but he filters it all with an endearing and heartfelt bedroom recording/space pop aesthetic that distinguishes him from the plethora of other wannabe artists claiming similar influences. I like his honesty, but more so, I appreciate his individual creativity and uniqueness.
BiBaBidi.com
This track has been sitting on my desk for way too long… Under Electric Light is a Montreal duo creating some downtempo synth pop rock. More proof that Montreal is still so hot right now… when’s it going to stop? Under Electric Light’s “Night Out” reminds me of some mid-career New Order mixed with all that DIY electro pop coming out of Sweden these days. An Otur or Le Sport remix seems like it would fit so natural…
“Night Out” is sincere, never ironic or insecure. Although the synth and vocals float on top of the track, organic elements like the guitar keep it grounded creating an interesting fresh mix to the ears.
Big Stereo
Under Electric Light est l'objet d'un seul homme, Danny Provencher. Et c'est toujours impressionnant (ou gonflant pour les envieux) autant de talent quand on sait qu'une seule personne est à l'origine de chansons comme The City et This Moment.
Le bonhomme se revendique de New Order, The Radio Dept., My Bloody Valentine, Ride, Slowdive et The Notwist. Et on y a droit à la première écoute. Les influences sont là -j'ajouterais un peu de Maps également- sans pour autant éclipser la force des compositions.
Puis, à la seconde écoute, on oublie tout. Les arrangements prennent le pas sur le reste, sur la musique passée, écoutée ces vingt dernières années, comme Maps a su le faire récemment, et les chansons se révèlent véritablement, prennent une ampleur autre, répandent une ambiance à la fois feutrée et percutante. New wave éthérée, limpide, pop dépouillée, divine, et une voix juste et suave, simple et irrésistible.
Deux chansons de son second EP Blue sont en écoute sur son Myspace, Night Out et The City, toutes deux remarquables. Son troisième, After The Blue, est lui dévoilé en entier, quatre titres mis à nu sur sa page bleue, juste sublimes et rien d'autre.
Ah si, une dernière chose. Si son album est aussi bon que ces EPs, on risquerait d'avoir affaire à quelque chose de grand.
Canada Hot
Last time we checked Montreal's Under Electric Light was heading down a dream pop path that triggered a tingle of delight in our gut. Almost 3 years on and I'm glad to report that nothing much has changed, Danny Provencher is still infatuated with the early 90's and his softly floating pieces of dream pop illuminate his latest offering the 'After The Blue' EP. I wonder how this must sound to someone who has yet to sample the delights of Ride, Chapterhouse or Slowdive. Armed with the knowledge it is a lush reminder of how the pioneers stole our hearts with clouds of fuzz and sweeping vocals. Under Electric Light have the art of the shimmer down to a tee and surely rank alongside Celestial as one of the finest purveyors of contemporary shoegaze. KD
MP3Hugger.com
Under Electric Light is a one-man project under the direction of Montreal musician Dan Provencher. Dan mixes in electronic elements into his music and has influences of New Order, Death Cab for Cutie and the Shout Out Louds to name a few.
There is however one outlining difference to these pop bands. Under Electric Light’s music is more soothing and doesn’t try to get grab your attention it just seeps into your brain and comfortably latches on. With Dan’s very soft/deep voice Under Electric Light gives off a different vibe and ultimately the type that I found surprising. I feel like it has more of an ambient-pop affect, whatever that means.
When I first looked at Dan’s influence, I thought I was going to get something very poppy, perhaps over the top yet depressing (or emo), however Under Electric Light pulls off being quiet and captivating. Maybe it was under the right circumstances but I feel lucky to have given his music the time of day. (I was hung over on Sunday and this happened to be the perfect music to just close my eyes to.
Allan's World Music
It' starting with an Interpol-like bass/drums mid tempo maneuver but after just 15 seconds, Danny Provencher's cushy voice draws your attention...33 seconds later, the guitar enters the show, like an hypnotic bass variation...33 seconds later again, the keyboard finishes off to give the utmost perfect shape to the ultimate crowning half of the first song ... and this EP in itself is a full-time sacrament...
Like the Radio Dept., Montreal's one-man band "Under electric Light" knows how to mash trivial components and transform them into an absolute thrill, halfway between impression and reality, between ideas and answers. Life is only beautiful with its uncertainties..
Pop'nCherries
Nice dynamic indie from UNDER ELECTRIC LIGHT who provide us with some blistering New Order-esque pop updated for the millenium. 'The City' is fantastic stuff indeed, all metronomic bass, swirling synth, dreamy vocals kinda recalling Stone Roses entwined with Interpol too whilst 'Sitting Here' has a more chugging thing going on like an introverted Mary Chain & Ride. 'Night Out' sounds just like latter day Field Mice & the closer '1:59' is a brief slowie (aw!) for the lighter waving brigade. More than a combination of their obvious influences, this 4 trk CD single will appeal to many quarters of the indie loving brigade.
Norman Records.com
Listening to Montreal’s Under Electric Light’s new ‘Blue’ EP brings back so many memories, happy ones it has got to be said. Theirs is a sound that is distilled from the dreamiest of sources. One minute you have January lapping at your ears, the next it’s as if Ride had repaired their friendship fences and reformed. What UEL do well is to broach the untouchable forces that they descend from and invest their own creative talents into the pot. The EP is consistently strong and it’s difficult to pick a particular highlight. ‘Sitting Here’ is effortlessly brilliant, all swirling textures and moody detours. Danny Provencher has his Mark Gardener’s down to a tee and the ragged bass lines raise the decibel level to make it audible as far away as OX4.
mp3hugger.com
Another Canadian band? Not another my friend. This is uncorrupted state of the art, pop: the typical and clean combination of great melodies and an unique diving atmosphere that you can dance to. Unsurprisingly, the formula still works just fine. Under Electric Light revitalized and intensified it to great effect. 'Blue EP' is a collection of solidly crafted pop songs that recalls New Order first steps. A great marriage of pop and electronics. "Night Out" and "The City" are the perfect examples. Sublime basslines and those mind-blowing electro beats. This is a great summer pop record. Highly Recommended.
www.sabas.jud.as
A sublime cut of prime-time early 90s New Order mixed with the kind of lo-fi indie-pop that Sarah records used to put out. Charming and effortless stuff from this Canadian two piece, definite ones to watch!!!
I never told you I received your two eps and I listen to them pretty often. It's so great to find someone with such similar tastes in the opposite side of the world, and who makes such good music!
Everyone at indiecater records would like to wish you a happy summer and let you know that there is an indiepop song from the Very Most available to download FREE from our site!
Bonjour Under Electric Light Un petit mot pour vous dire que notre album est maintenant disponible sur Itunes, http://www.amazon.ca/ et dans tout les bons disquaires ! A+ Standing Waltz
Thank you so much! I'm glad you found us cause I'm still surprised I hadn't heard about you before, the songs are GREAT! Will you finish the album soon?
Salut Danny, Un petit mot pour te dire que notre album sera disponible le 05 mai prochain. Pour l'instant tu peux venir écouter des extraits de nos nouvelles pièces. A+ SW
Series Two Records released a new 9 CD compilation album. CLICK HERE FOR Full Track list and Purchasing information for the January 2009 compilations by Series Two Records The compilation 9 CD set features 204 artists and 700 minutes of music. The Compilations feature artists from all over the world including bands from (13) states of the USA, Canada, Australia, Spain, United Kingdom, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Norway, France,Italy, Japan, Germany, New Zealand, Ireland, Croatia, Indonesia, Singapore, Poland, Philippines, Brazil, Belgium, Switzerland, and Israel.
