‘Beacons’, the first track on I Like Trains’ evolutionary album ‘The Shallows’ was an obvious single choice. It was one of the tracks that also marked the most radical departure in terms of instrumentation and arrangement from anything in the band’s catalogue to date, and the four tracks that accompany it are indicative of a band who are continuing to explore the sonic territory the album touched upon.
Over the course of their career, ILT have used the EP format to push their sound forward, with some outstanding results, perhaps most notably on the highly sought-after ‘Christmas Tree Ship’ release. The ‘Beacons EP’ again takes a step sideways from their latest album release and sees the band exploring new terrain while maintaining sight of their previous output.
So while the lyrics draw on well-worn clichés and twist them to produce something greater than the sum of the parts on the lead track, the music, too, takes the 80s electro-pop blueprint that’s become a touchstone for so many contemporary acts and places a distinctive ILT stamp on it.
‘Rome’ is a downbeat yet pulsing electro groove that amalgamates the sound of Blood Orange with Joy Division, a chopstick motif interplaying with a glacial synth and mechanised beat.
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‘Easter Island’ is but a brief interlude before the brooding ‘Jericho’, a sparse sliver of electronica that arguably represents what Editors could have achieved if only they’d not tried to please everyone while in actuality pleasing no-one on their last album. Nagging, looping guitars circle in the background, mingling with an oscillating synth underneath a blunt drum track. Finally, ‘The Setting Sun’ reintroduces chiming guitar sounds and a strolling bass more familiar to older fans, and meshes them against a bubbling keyboard sound that adds depth and resonance without taking over as the track slowly builds and buries David’s vocals ahead of an unexpected finish.
I Like Trains Online
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