Los Angeles –  Need Your Light, the new record from indie-pop vanguards Ra Ra Riot, is the band’s brightest and most inspired work yet. The once baroque-pop, Brooklyn quintet is now utilizing synthesizers more than ever before. This was quite apparent on their 2013 record Beta Love, a rapid change in direction for a band with such a beloved signature sound. Three years later, Ra Ra Riot’s fourth full-length is the all-encompassing sound of a band being revitalized by their personal reality. Respectively, Need Your Light (Barsuk Records) sees members Wes Miles (vocals), Mathieu Santos (bass), Milo Bonacci (guitar), Rebecca Zeller (violin), and Kenny Bernard (drums) getting back to their unconventional roots without deserting the more piquant soundscapes they surveyed with 2013′s Beta Love. The end result is a record that’s celebratory while the band builds on their prior experiences in order to skillfully create something that looks toward the future with a hopeful watch. Rostam Batmanglij, formerly of Vampire Weekend, helped produce the brand new record that pushes Ra Ra Riot into new heights with a newfound burst of energy that’s simply unquestionable from beginning to end.

The record kicks off with “Water,” a very Vampire Weekend-esque track, which comes as no surprise. Miles’ falsetto vocals, as original as they come by in indie pop, float on cloud nine. The single is greatly satisfying and melodious all-around. “Absolutely” follows up, and it’s an ebullient tune as well. It’s as addicting as anything these indie-poppers have ever crafted. An exuberant Miles can take mundane situations and add much needed energy to them. He’s a wizard of sorts with this skill set. “Foreign Lovers” is a quick two-plus minute long gem. It even has time to throw in some violin work. It’s simple and effective but may be easily overlooked given some of the more standout tunes Ra Ra Riot has to offer here. Speaking of such, the subsequent eponymous track, “I Need Your Light” is brilliantly luminous. It’s gorgeously put together with various layers that allow it to feel like something quite special. Undoubtedly, it’s Ra Ra Riot’s finest song on the record.

“Bad Times” is a superlative tune with some of the finest use of synths in this collection of tracks from the band. It has a specific way of elevating you off your seat. Don’t be fooled by the title itself; “Bad Times” offers emotional depth combined with an indelible pop sound making you want to go off and have a good time. “Call Me Out” recalls Ra Ra Riot’s earlier days. Miles sings with an irrefutable persuasion. He believes in every line he calls out and convinces the listener every time. It’s a slightly slower tempo song than the ones before it, but a rather understated tune that is teeming with absolute beauty.

Ra Ra Riot doesn’t really have any stumbles or shortcomings within the ten masterful tracks. “Suckers” closes out the record, and it’s purely awesome. I mean, the track radiates with a subtle coolness that gives off the feeling the Ra Ra Riot of 2016 is a brand new Ra Ra Riot, with a fresh beginning set and ready for them. The song is as delightful as a cool summer night. One would think Ra Ra Riot is approaching a finish line of sorts with their fourth record. However, I beg to differ. This is a reinvigorated group taking experience and molding that into something deliciously fresh. They’re a unit looking ahead but not too far ahead, where they could lose sight on whatever they’re trying to achieve. This isn’t a race for Ra Ra Riot to reach a point of conclusion, but to exist in an endless race where both starting and finish lines are really just the same thing.

Need Your Light is available for purchase on iTunes. Ra Ra Riot is currently on tour. Check out Ra Ra Riot’s Facebook page for a full list of tour dates. 

Photo by Shervin Lainez

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Sean Kayden

His father has always been an avid fan of 70s and 80s artists. He introduced Sean at an early age to the likes of many rock groups of that era. In the late 90s, Sean acquired a fondness for the likes of such alternative bands as Smashing Pumpkins, Goo Goo Dolls, and Red Hot Chili Peppers. In high school, he gravitated towards artists like Brand New, Saves The Day, and Fall Out Boy. As Sean entered California State University Fullerton, where he earned his BA in Radio/TV/Film, his music taste expanded to the realm of Broken Social Scene, The National, and Death Cab For Cutie. For as long as Sean can remember, he has always had the desire of launching his own stories that would someday be presented through television, film, and print. This form of expression continuously uplifts his spirit. Sean is a certified TRX fitness trainer and teaches group classes as well.

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