Sometimes we come across songs with instrumentation that speaks just as much as the lyrics.
Some artists rely on musical arrangement as a second voice to help carry the story along. This week, I had the pleasure of listening to “Front Lights” by Perlo, a very intimate song. I found myself getting lost in its angelic vocal harmonies. As we take a step back, it becomes easier to appreciate the big picture in all of its soft-tongued glory.
I’m a sucker for the twinkling piano keys, no matter what the subject or genre. When the ghostly vocals simmer through, you’ll will either become fixated or move along. You might not be an acoustic indie junkie, but it’s still nice to appreciate art when it’s due. Melodically, Perlo does a fantastic job of taking us by the hand and leading us around every corner of the song. This is accomplished by gorgeous transitions. The strings and piano pieces float over the skyline of the song.
If I was tall
If I was dark
Still wouldn’t be quite handsome enough
Ok for the afternoon
Not enough to wake up to
For some odd reason, I love this verse. It’s the kind of sting you get from sleeping on a bag of pins and needles. Sorrow is easy to understand. The vocal harmonies pair together well.
It’s like watching two parallel stories played back on the same tattered projector screen.
Still I leave
The front lights on
So you’ll see and know to come
How to make a fool of me
It’s easier than you’d believe
As beautiful as it is, the song leaves an incomplete aftertaste you just can’t put your finger on. The way the song ends is left open-ended, similar to the way an author ends on a cliffhanger. It’s a pretty short song. There isn’t much of a red ribbon to tie up the song. Songwriting doesn’t always call for an elaborate outro, but sometimes it can really round things off quite nicely.
So what is the song all about? The lyrics swoon over the unspoken home away from home. Leaving “the front lights on” is just a subtle siren drawing us back. Like any well-rounded review, we have to talk about the mix. After listening a few times, you’ll begin to notice all of the little things. For a song with a lot going on, it’s pretty easy to pinpoint every tiny detail.
Plus, the lyrics are fairly interpretive, so you might enjoy picking apart the bones, piece by piece.
Wrapping up, I think “Front Lights” is an excellent track from a really talented singer/songwriter duo. Perlo knows how to tug at your heartstrings at every verse. It might not be for everyone, but the story has its merits and deserves to be heard.
