ALBUM REVIEW: Luminescence – Bruce Soord

BRUCE SOORD has established himself as one of the brightest lights in contemporary progressive rock in his role as mastermind of THE PINEAPPLE THIEF, and his growing solo work is only serving to add to his reputation for high-quality songwriting. His third album Luminescence roots his familiar contemplative sound into the acoustic guitar, resulting in yet another beautiful collection of prog-pop bearing his name.

Opener Dear Life sets out the thematic and sonic world of the album, with earthy acoustic guitar and ethereal strings combining to provide a bed for Soord‘s expressive vocals and words of melancholia. Inspired by his experiences on tour, in this record Soord explores the difficulty of reconciling the everyday anxieties of modern life in the big cities with the desire to find inner peace. The trip-hop rhythms and soft bleeps of Lie Flat paint this picture of murmuring disquiet well, accompanied by field recordings Soord took of urban sounds like the buzz of traffic and a child shouting after their mother. 

Some of the most impressive elements of the record are the gorgeous string accompaniments, featuring contributions by THE DIVINE COMEDY member and acclaimed composer for film and TV Andrew Skeet. Their arrangements lend the deliberately still songwriting a sense of development, such as in the conclusion to the stunning Olomouc. Never Ending Light is another intricate piece combining acoustic, electronica and strings, while the confessional vocals of the intricately produced Day Of All Days could proudly sit on a STEVEN WILSON record. 

Soord is well known for his talent for production and mixing, and Luminescence is no exception – the instruments and vocals sound crisp and alive, with the acoustic guitar and the aforementioned strings a particular pleasure to spend time with. The only slight dampener amid the auditory luxury is the use of drum machine which suits the electronica-heavy songs, but jars with the organic sound of more acoustic-led pieces.

If any criticism could be levelled at Luminescence, it is that the songs follow a very similar compositional pattern and mood, resulting in them largely (and sometimes literally) blending in together over the record’s 40 minutes. But does that matter when the tunes are this strong? Taken as a whole piece, the record offers a coherent listening experience – not so much a journey with a beginning, middle and end, rather a cycle of paintings for the steady beat of everyday city life it represents. The closing trio of Stranded Here, Read To Me and Finding Peace perfectly ties it together, summarising much of the thematic and sonic core of the album.

BRUCE SOORD‘s third album Luminescence is as impressive as it is subtle. A record for peaceful mornings and for shedding the day’s stresses in the evening, it bears repeat listening and is a thoroughly enjoyable addition to Soord’s body of work.

Rating: 8/10

Luminescence is out now via Kscope.

Like BRUCE SOORD on Facebook.