Lights Out Asia "In The Days Of Jupiter"

First and foremost, Lights Out Asia's music is undefinable. The best way to describe their music would be blissful with a temporary escape from reality. Hailing from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, this innovative trio leaves the boundaries of traditional electronic, rock, and ambient music. Their newest offering, "In The Days Of Jupiter", make the listener feel just like the title itself, as if he or she was on the surface of Jupiter. This is nighttime, stargazing music, to say the least.
The album starts off with an introduction entitled "All These Words Are Yours", which leads into one of the most epic tracks of 2010, "Except Europa". A slow and consistent air-like synth starts the track off, followed by a layer of hard, hip-hop hitting beats which eventually leads into a climax of distorted, sonic genius. The climax to "Except Europa" marks the album's strongest moment, in my opinion. "Attempt No Landing There" is the third track on the album and resembles Boards Of Canada with droned out vocals. A repetitive glitch synth effect rounds out the entire track and is accompanied by signature Boards Of Canada style analog synth. Clocking in at 8:44, this is the longest track on the album.
The fourth track on "In The Days Of Jupiter", entitled "All Is Quiet In The Valley", may be known to most music fans as interlude or filler, but to me it is more of a meditative sound break (meaning that it gives the listener time to reflect on the first half of the album while preparing for the next half). The track leads perfectly into the hard hitting fifth track "13 Am", which is the most rock infused song on the album. The sixth and seventh tracks "Arbres Paisible" and "Currents Meet The Tide" are electronic, synth infused, masterpieces, which make the listener feel as if he or she was orbiting in space. These two tracks make up the prologue for the eighth track "Then I Hope You Like The Desert". This track follows the same musical structure as the previous two, but adds vocals to the mix. The lyrics say "I've said too much, I've given too much, to stay whole", which lets the listener hear this meditative and heartfelt album through voice. I interpret this verse as the singer trying to give his all and be at peace with others, when in the end there is still something greater missing. The track gives listeners hope in a world of hate. The final track "Bye Bye November" is a slow, ambient closer, that ends the album perfectly.
Lights Out Asia's music is heartfelt on all accounts. I do not hear one thing on this album that is fake or self-indulged, and that is what makes this band and album one of a kind. Anyone that listens to "In The Days Of Jupiter", will feel at home, and at peace, while also hoping for something greater. Do yourself a favor and listen to this newest masterpiece by Lights Out Asia.

Here is the video for the track 'Except Europa':