SOFTLY TOWARDS THE LIGHT ALBUM REVIEW

With their new record, the New Jersey quartet continue the progression of a band from live powerhouse to expert song-crafters, blending a seductive combination of soul, British blues, and a dose of garage rock. The catalyst for their latest album came when front man Justin Angelo Morey heard the song "If It's All The Same To you Babe" by the Luther Ingram Orchestra which led him down a road towards a deeper rooted soul feel and more introspective emotions. Recording outside of their own studio for the first time, the band chose the confines of Hoboken's Pigeon Club for its allegiance to warm tones and wealth of classic keyboards. Usual guitarist Jon Gonnelli moved to the electric organ for most of the recording, leaving room for Herbert Wiley's fuzzed out guitar heroics, while drummer Nick Ferrante put his live drumming theatrics on record with the band for the first time since joining in early 2008.

With Softly Towards The Light, The Black Hollies expand upon a sound that Rolling Stone described as "guitar heroics and psychedelia that would bring a smile to Brian Jones' face". The album kicks off with the energetic opener "Run With Me Run" and instantly drops into the floor-shaking stomp of "Gloomy Monday Morning" constructing walls of organ and cymbals that ride upon a bouncing bass line. "Lead Me To Your Fire" drives with blistering guitar solos that build to an energetic fever pitch, and on "How Did We Get Here" and "Everything's Fine" the Hollies display a newfound versatility, slowing things down with breathy vocals and backup harmonies that drift over shimmering guitar and keys.

From start to finish Softly Towards The Light brims with pop hooks and clever lyrics, another solid step forward in The Black Hollies continued evolution that looks to build upon the accomplishments of their past releases - Crimson Reflections (2006) and Casting Shadows (2008).

REVIEWS

"Their sound, a mash up of British Invasion blues,
guitar heroics and psychedelia that would bring a smile to Brian Jones’ face." - Rolling Stone

"The best band currently making the rounds in NYC" - The L Magazine