Laurel by Brighter

Brighter’s debut long-player for Sarah Records, re-recorded at the White House in Weston-super-Mare after the original sessions in Brighton were abandoned, presented eight crystalline pop songs over two sides of 10” vinyl. In a clear echo of their debut EP, Around The World In Eighty Days, the first side was entirely drumless, with delicate electric arpeggios floating over the rhythm of an acoustic guitar; by its close, the time-worn steps leading to the medieval chapter house in Wells cathedral, etched in deepest darkest blue, seemed an utterly appropriate sleeve image - this was a music one could easily imagine reverberating within those ancient cold stone walls. The crisp drum patterns of side two opener Ocean Sky were, therefore, almost shocking; but soon the stillness returned, the album closing with the aching melancholy drift of Journey’s End.

Brighter were a trio from Brighton led by singer, songwriter and guitarist Keris Howard with old school-friends Alex Sharkey and Alison Cousens on bass and guitar respectively. They released four singles and an album on Sarah Records.