A Bay Area five-piece led by songwriter Terry Sowers, Light Fantastic make their full-length debut with
Out of View. The opening words "See the way that the water, it falls and it spreads around the sea" from "Rain on the Ocean" create an apt setting for the album's shimmering indie pop, which is informed by shoegaze and, with a nod to their location, psychedelia and surf. A tuneful melody, wistful chord progressions, and vocal harmonies that carry the stamp of folk also grace the song and give a strong indication of what the record has in store. It's easy to imagine sundresses, embroidered shirts, and tambourines while listening to
Out of View, despite the updated wash of guitars and keyboards. The honeyed hooks, ooh-oohs, and heavy reverb of "All Rise" evoke a beach party across the cove, while tropical detailing moves "Gifts We Bring" far down the coast. Those songs each have a touch of longing that marks the rest of the album, too, and gives the impression that summer may be coming to an end. The ten tracks also include the instrumental "Two Guitars," a beauty that invites seaside imagery beyond the ocean sunset on the LP's cover. All of the above is enhanced by a production aesthetic that edges toward lo-fi and rejects polish. That, along with the particular blend of complementary musical styles, which bridge decades, and Sowers' sweetly melancholy songwriting, work together for a debut that charms. ~ Marcy Donelson