By Keith Walsh
Since adding Omar Quiñones in early 2023, electronic music act BlakLight, (Quiñones, Brian Belknap, and Adam Collier) have deepened their bonds of music and friendship. There’s a familiarity and fluidity in the way Quiñones’ voice mixes with lead vocalist Brian Belknap’s voice and into the mix of synths from Collier’s studio. Both Quiñones and Belknap are sopranos, and “Blind Vision,” the only vocal track on their three-song single of the same name, has a strong disco feel that gives a solid gold foundation for their harmonies. The theme is dependence and despondence, in a scenario of dysfunction and miscommunication, where intuition becomes an important tool in navigating a way forward.
The second track, “Don’t Assume That We Are Alright” is a minor key instrumental with a repeating and developing motif that, along with the title, signifies pain and perseverance. Kudos to these guys for breaking down barriers by approaching difficult topics around mental health in smart ways.
The third and final track, “Broken Soul,” is as dark and gothic as the title suggests. It’s probably the closest I’ve heard BlakLight approach something close to work by Trent Reznor and Nine Inch Nails. Then at two minutes in, a somewhat bright brass synth riff breaks the stereotype for just a moment, until at three minutes heavy acoustic drum samples add more of a dark prog rock feel. It’s also reminiscent of some of Peter Gabriel’s work from his second solo album, Peter Gabriel 3. At just under seven minutes, “Broken Soul” also has a film soundtrack feel. The dramatic portrayal of suffering certainly lends itself to cinematic interpretations.
With these three songs leading the way, this summer’s new album by BlakLight, The Haunting Of Us promises to be something revealing and special.
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