A unique mix of pleasure and pain, Babaganouj’s Pillar Of Light is the auditory equivalent of an ice cream headache, a shot of sugar-loaded delight that comes with its own distinct measure of aching. It’s sad, and depictive of struggles, but by its conclusion one is left resolutely uplifted.
Unusually for an EP recorded by an up-and-coming band, it’s not a musical resume – rather, it’s a stunningly self-contained work, one with its own thrilling internal logic. Would You Like Me mixes radio-friendly riffs with a heavy measure of fuzz, blowing pop constraints outwards, whereas Awhile is like a Vodka Cruisers commercial directed by Ingmar Bergman – all Calypso riffs and unceasing reminders of man’s mortality.
This is music that cares about you, an EP that draws a target on its listeners’ heart and aims for bullseyes. But more than that, it’s sincere and it’s unashamed, and a song like Do Rite With Me gains true power after each sweep of its cap-in-hand chorus.
Pillar Of Light isn’t an exhibition or a desperate plea for the blogosphere’s attention. It’s the sound of a band making music they like, hoping perhaps you might like it too. And on that level it is an unmitigated success.
BY JOSEPH EARP
