BlakLight – Music In A Time Of Uncertainty (Album – BlakLight)
Genre/Influences: Electro-Pop.
Format: Digital, CD.
Background/Info: BlakLight in a brand-new duo hailing from Los Angeles (USA). The band is driven by singer Brian Belknap (Mind Machine) and operator Adam Collier (Crush333, MDA and Full Frontal Disco). This self-released debut-album features ten songs.
Content: BlakLight is clearly driven by Electro-Pop music with a vintage touch on top. The songs are carried by melody lines and melancholic moods. The work has something dreamy and yet danceable. There are no real breaks in this work; there’s a non-stop succession of enjoyable and entertaining songs. Some passages remind me a bit of De/Vision.
+ + + : If the title of this work seems to be a clear indication about the horrible year 2020 has been, it also reflects a mature and impressive work. BlakLight is not reinventing the Electro-Pop style, but this is a mature composition made with great sound treatments, poignant melancholic atmospheres and a global refinement in the production. The songs are danceable, revealing several little jewels such as “Control”, “I Remember Nothing” and “This Lonely Night”. The album takes off with 3 great songs, but the final part of the work is also impressive. From a pure technical point of view this album sounds perfect; great music and a talented singer.
– – – : After the very strong debut tracks, “Unknown love” and “The Sound” both are the only cuts from the album with a little less potential.
Conclusion: BlakLight sounds as a refreshing breeze in Electro-Pop land; don’t expect that much innovation, but simply a brilliant production.
Best songs: “I Remember Nothing”, “Control”, , “This Lonely Night”, “Under The BlakLight”, “Isolation”,
Rate (8½).
Artist: www.blaklightband.com / www.facebook.com/BlakLightband
About BlakLight
BlakLight is a duo from Los Angeles made up of vocalist Brian Belknap, also known from Mind Machine, and programmer Adam Collier, who has worked as Crush333, MDA and Full Frontal Disco.
“Music In A Time Of Uncertainty” is the self-released debut album, issued in November 2020. Side-Line later spoke with BlakLight in a 2026 interview about the group’s decision to remain DIY.
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I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.
