Traveling Together
8 Pound Gorilla, 2022
8/10
The singer-songwriters Amyliza de Jesus and Marla Vannucci, the core of Brighter Light Brigade, align themselves with the multi-instrumentalist Dean Jones for these 7 songs that expand off their debut, Feel It All.
“My Favorite Song” starts the listen with Jones’ soothing organ and Vannucci’s soulful pipes in the very harmonic delivery that comes with island-esque breeziness, and “Rufus The Rooster” follows with vivid storytelling and Aaron Till’s precise fiddle in the cautious, eloquent climate.
In the middle, “Different” finds itself in ballad territory with soothing acoustic guitar and gorgeous singing in the folk landscape, while “My Whole Heart” enters area of ska/Caribbean sounds that are fleshed out with a heartfelt appeal. “Goodbye Summer”, the final song, then gets punchy, pop-friendly and emits so much coziness and warmth.
Brighter Light Brigade began in 2020 as a music collective founded by de Jesus, and it includes a rotating cast of artists who seek to connect, heal and inspire, and all these songs certainly do that, and more, and make for an ideal family record.
Travels well with: Brighter Light Brigade- Feel It All; Jenn Cleary- Happy Day