Gidge - New light

New Light Cover Art, Atomnation

Gidges' latest 2020 release “New Light” caught me by surprise, but also as a slight disappointment in comparison to “Autumn Bells”. Having said that, it anyway might seem hard to outdo their debut LP in which they have set very high standards.

The Swedish electronic DJ-duo, Ludvig Stolterman and Jonatan Nilsson, self-reportedly found their inspiration for New Light travelling the Pacific Northwest and again, recorded sounds of forests, oceans and mountains.

In general, the album’s beats are a lot faster than those of their debut album. Driven by using rapid rhythms, consecutive variant beats, cueing in vocals and instrumental samples, thus creating a much brighter and lively atmosphere. While “Autumn Bells” consists of a greater influence of ambient music, “New Light” certainly has its location in ambient house music through its emphasis on melodic and vocal character.

Again I would like to point out parts which stand out for me and define the album’s character: The first Song “Quasar” perfectly prepares you for the consecutive track “New Light”: “Quasar”s' smooth cut at the end, which gets taken over by “New Light”, combing sounds of the previous song but with a complete different set out, creates an infectious mood simply animating oneself to dance. With the 10 minute track “Perimeter”, Gidge yet again show their diversification of sounds throughout its course and then finishing off with a calm, melancholic outro.

Nevertheless, Gidges' signature is clearly perceptible in those 9 new tracks: transporting the endlessness of the ocean and deep woods, Scandinavia’s cold and misty weather, which creates a comforting and vibrant effect on its listener. In comparison to their LP Autmn Bells it is a lot more melodic and dancy.

New Light on Spotify: