By Gillian Middleton.
Nine Types of Light is the fourth studio album by TV on the Radio since the band was formed in 2001. For anyone who tires of the constant parade of indie band which differ from each other only by name TV on the Radio have always been a divine treat. The dark sweltering fuzz of Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes was the album that edged them toward the limelight but Return to Cookie Mountain was surely the album that secured it. ‘Wolf like Me’ is still finds an unlikely home on the playlists of rock club DJs but the entire album soared like a ‘dirty little whirlwind’.
The album preceding Nine Types of Light was ‘Dear Science,’ a markedly more joyous affair than that which came before it. Every album which TVOTR have released is sublime. The music may seem deceptively dense at first but once it grows on you obsession is not far away. So how does ‘Nine Types of Light’ measure of to their former glory?
It certainly matches anything they have done so far but rather than move back towards their dark origins TVOTR use ‘Nine Types of Light’ to showcase a brighter and clearer sound than anything previously released by the band. ‘Second Song,’ the ironically-titled opener builds slowly, reintroducing the listener to the voice of Tunde Adebimpe before the beat thunders into focus. ‘No Future Shock’ is a dance-rock number not unlike ‘Dancing Shoes.’ Single ‘Will Do’ is sweet without being excessively so.
Every tracks stands out on its own merits so to pick any in particular is quite the task. The intricate web of sound and the complexity of each individual layer are as breath-taking as ever. It is enough to send a humble album reviewer into a flurry of hyperbole. So I could tell you that the percussion is like thumping broken-down heartbeats or that the vocals are smooth like a saxophone played by Antony Hegarty’s voice but that wouldn’t even begin to explain the brilliance of it all. To appreciate the full musical mastery of TVOTR you are going to have to get thee to a music store and find out for yourself.
