May
16

Peaking Lights – Lucifer Mixes, Vol. 4

Only an ignorant itinerant sheepherder roaming around the outback would dislike the mix series that Peaking Lights have unleashed upon the world in honor of their latest, Lucifer. And even then, out of said lamb lovers (no Gene Wilder), most of them are known to appreciate some slinking summer-ready reggae jams. So smoke one or… Continue reading »

Apr
19

Passion of the Weiss Mix Series: Peaking Lights

Peaking Lights are crate-diggers who have learned to cover their tracks. Unlike most bands with record collections longer than Tyson Chandler’s arms, they employ very little scratch but plenty of spliff. No song is completely cribbed from one style or scene. At Ad Hoc, I described it as “one sound inextricably intertwined, sharing a single… Continue reading »

Apr
12

Peaking Lights – Lucifer Mixtape Vol. 2

Peaking Lights: preserving the sanctity of marriage, crate-digging, and boogie funk, one mixtape at a time. That’s a lot of pressure, but they have racks on racks and racks of records and Aaron Coyes is not afraid to use them. Like the first Lucifer mixtape, there is no track list and they get so deep… Continue reading »

Mar
27

Peaking Lights – Lucifer Mixtape

I’m supposed to interview Peaking Lights at some point in the coming weeks and now my line of questioning is already handled. Their new Lucifer mix has no tracklist — stitched amidst the new wave, disco-soul, and sundry tropically-tinted jams are new songs snared from their sophomore album that’s dropping in June on Mexican Summer.… Continue reading »

Oct
19

Gold Pandas and Peaking Lights

The most striking cut on Ghostly-signed Gold Panda’s DJ Kicks is its its severe opener, “An Iceberg Hurled Northwards Through Clouds.” Ignoring the Eggers-ready title, the track delivers on it’s arctic intentions. It is snow blinding minimal techno, except with steel drums and odd bell ringing. Peaking Lights dope it, dragging things out to an… Continue reading »

May
31

Video: Peaking Lights – “Amazing & Wonderful”

Adorned in the sepia shades and black and white schemes of the early Velvet Underground, the Andy Warhol screen tests appear to be the chief inspirations for “Amazing & Wonderful.” Take note Lady Gaga: there is no need to scream “LOOK AT ME, I HAVE READ THE PHILOSOPHY OF ANDY WARHOL TWICE,” unless you take… Continue reading »

May
09

Peaking Lights’ Stained Glass Psychedelia

Names I have heard used to describe Peaking Lights’ music: post-reggae, dub, and groove wave. None of them particularly do the Madison-based married couple justice, but all are accurate to a degree. Released on Los Angeles experimental pop haven, Not Not Fun, 936 fits into the lineage established by labelmates Sun Araw and Pocahaunted: psychedelic… Continue reading »