Some Racing, Some Stopping, 2008

The formation of Headligths took place in 2004. In 2006 they released their debut ‘Kill Them With Kidness’; “Indie pop with a shoegazey aftertaste” as they named it themselves. An album that will hit you right in your indie heart if you’re the lucky owner of one of those. After a tremendous tour activity (over 300 shows during two and a half year) caused by their first albumrelease the band needed a break. The trio mooved into a farmhouse surrounded by soybean and corn fields. This was last spring. They needed a pause, space and piece. Gradually the band started to wirte songs again – the songs that turned into the new record.

All things that had happened in the three past years were stressing for the band. All the touring and the release of the previous album. This influenced their way of making music. “This time they wanted something more natural, more immediate, more spontaneous“, as written on their website. Erin Fein, lead vocals, put it this way: they wanted to “capture the moment of a new song“. The title of the new album describes the bands story so far: ‘Some Racing, Some Stopping‘. The touring and then the need to settle down.

What came out of this break is pretty good. Tracks such as ‘Get Yer Head Around It’ and ‘School Boys’ are indeed recommendable while ‘Market Girl’ takes my breath away. On these tracks you really feel the bands passion for music. The sonorous guitars and ringing bells creates an absolutely beautiful melancolic atmosphere that would touch any indie lovers bleeding heart. ‘Cherry Tulips’, ‘On April 2′ and ‘Catch Them All’ is a different affair. Melancholy is gone and the tunes are likeable, happy and attracts the listener with its “sympaphy”, sonorous guitar themes and cathing rythems. Headlights is, however, best on their melancholic songs. The beautiful lyrics on ‘Some Racing, Some Stopping’, the dizzyness on ‘So Much For the Afternoon’ and the breathless beauty ‘Marked Girl’ is what makes Headlights a great band. The beautiful voice of Erin Fein is also worth accentuating.

Headlights is now out ‘racing’ again. They will be touring North America in the next two months.

Facts:

• Headlights was formed in 2004
• They released two long play records and an EP
• Artistacal references: Mercury Rev, The Band, Björk, 60’s french girl pop, My Bloody Valentine.
• Headlights is playing ‘indie pop with a shoegazey aftertaste’
• You will definitely like them!