Band:	40 Watt Sun
Album:	Perfect Light
Style:	Slowcore
Release date:	January 21, 2022
A review by:	X-Ray Rod

01. Reveal
02. Behind My Eyes
03. Until
04. Colours
05. The Spaces In Between
06. Raise Me Up
07. A Thousand Miles
08. Closure

Only the bare necessities are present here.

The passing of time frightens me. What stays the same and what changes? Who will remain by my side, celebrating the good times and helping me cope with the bad? Who will turn into a stranger and disappear quietly into the back of my mind? Perhaps they'll just take a step back; the closeness of our hearts no longer achievable, our worlds no longer being compatible. What have I done all this time? I look back at the past decade and I cannot fully dissect which achievements I’m proud of, because some nights I just feel like I’m going through the motions, playing “pretend”.

About ten years ago, I graduated from high-school and jumped into “the real world”. About ten years ago, The Inside Room, 40 Watt Sun’s debut album, was released. It overwhelms me to think how songs like “Restless” and “Carry Me Home” are burned into my memory and get even stronger reactions from me as time passes by. But things change, as they often do. And in a wild turn of events, it seems that the changes in my life and the changes in Patrick Walker’s songwriting style have been in sync, for I listen to Perfect Light, and it just makes sense to me. The heart hears what it needs to hear.

“Whatever you’ve lost; whatever you leave;
whatever your lonely, stifled need;
whenever the night is tightening;
wherever you are, the light will reach.”

By the time Wider Than The Sky was released, the project’s future had become clear. There was only the smallest degree of guitar distortion left. The compositions, albeit long like funeral dirges, did not have anything in common with metal any more. The sorrowful pacing was kept intact, as well as Walker’s beautiful voice and touching lyrics. The heaviness of the riffs had been redefined, with only the emotional weight of the songs doing the work.

But now Patrick Walker turns the wheels of change once more. This is the first album without a proper band structure. Instead, we have a full array of session musicians that help him materialize his latest opus. It is a new beginning for the project. The music of 40 Watt Sun has been stripped down from anything resembling conventional heaviness. Perfect Light is largely an acoustic work that fully dives into slowcore waters, particularly those of the 90s era. The slow, minimalistic approach resembles some early works by LOW, though without the oppressive bleakness. Instead, the tone is more yearning and heartfelt; similar to Red House Painters, with songs that slowly but surely release a maelstrom of emotions and melodies. Some songs, like the opener “Reveal” and the shorter tracks “Colours” and “Closure” have a much stronger folk vibe, and feel much brighter, yet remain deeply moving not unlike Jason Molina’s work. The comparison goes a bit further. The late Molina also worked as the only stable member of his project Songs: Ohia, with rotating musicians at his side.

There are only three major instances where riffs or electric leads of the distant past appear, though ever so quietly and shy. “Behind My Eyes”, “Until” and “Raise Me Up” culminate in crescendos with masterful layering. The droning guitars are accompanied by a passionate drumming, which is an unexpected yet important aspect of the album. It’s no surprise that the drummer behind two of these tracks is Andy Prestidge, who performs behind the kit for Warning’s concerts. Beside these louder examples (by comparison, that is), the drumming is extremely delicate, warm and brings a lot of feeling to Perfect Light. “The Spaces In Between” and “A Thousand Miles” stand out here. These pensive songs, filled with bittersweet melodies, are greatly enhanced by this beautifully crafted drumming. They provide a solace so sorely needed.

Of course, I wouldn’t be doing my job if I were to skip the most identifiable ingredient of 40 Watt Sun’s music. Patrick Walker’s voice remains stellar. He has the type of voice that is so tender that you get a sinking feeling in your chest. It is odd to speak of maturity when it comes to a singer with such a long trajectory, but his voice has achieved a new tone. It is more approachable than before, with a less dramatic timbre compared to his previous performances. His vocals are still massively emotional, though, and demand attention as he delivers his poetry. Speaking of which, Walker continues to take the very core of the human condition and molds it into heart-wrenching lyrics. With music arrangements so open, the lyrics naturally take the spotlight. I know, “Love & Loss” is a very generic theme, but the way Patrick sings is what keeps me anticipating and whispering every line as I stare at the ceiling. They seem so specific yet broad enough that anyone can relate to at least a couple from each song.

"Am I strong enough to carry this?
Or too weak to let it go?"

I’m no fool. I’m aware this review is dragging. And honestly, so does the album. I cannot imagine a lot of people willing to sit through more than an hour of this type of slow, melancholic music in one sitting like I do. Music like this often needs to quickly make a deep emotional contact with the listener, in order to keep them interested despite its repetitive nature. But then again, the sour feelings that accompany the day to-day life of a lonely person can frequently plod along so tediously. As a soundtrack to those moments, Perfect Light embraces me softly. Who knows, perhaps it will make sense to you too?