Tsirko - Lightplay
Lightplay, released by Tsirko on October 22nd, 2022, was a sullen collection of songs that explored the angst of going through puberty and coming to the realisation that you will never be a real woman, no matter how much validation you receive.
The vocals are surprisingly very good, easily the greatest draw of the album. Sitting between Mark Lanegan and Roger Watters, they demonstrate masterful range. Every now and then, the vocalist adds in a unique quirk, such as the voice-emulated water drops on Cornets on the Water. If only there were more of these moments. Just as impressive are the keys; written with flair and executed with precision. Where they lack in complexity, they make up for in variation and grace. The lo-fi elements are also quite lovely, such as the cosy claps on Staircase Fantaisie. There’s a roomly feel to many of the samples. Not all ideas are executed that well; Buttermilk Medley sounds unapologetically amateur. This adds to a charm overall but doesn’t make for a compelling listen.
If anything could be said about the majority of tracks here, is that they’re missing flavour. More instrumental elements would have gone a long way. Additionally, most of the material abuses space too much, sounding plain rather than spacious. More utilisation of the instruments already present would have been nice. Towards the end of the album, especially during the closer, the album adds more elements, but most of them are midi and resultingly mid. While composed very well, they sound too familiar, and thus unadorned. The same would be said about the drumming, which is flat. A proper set would have undeniably strengthened songs such a King Lionsmane and A Word for Wind. Nonetheless, the compositions themselves are incredibly well written. There’s a wide range of ideas, and most are explored quite well. It goes without saying a proper mix and a grander palette would have bolstered the LP up to a high tier.
Nonetheless, Lightplay is a surprisingly good debut. It’s almost very good. Most importantly, it highlights the skill of the artist; I’m sure with more polish, their next release could be truly impressive.
Good
Listen to it here:
https://tsirko.bandcamp.com/album/lighterplay
https://tsirko.bandcamp.com/album/lighterplay
