“Trick of the Light” by Aarktica

I always look forward to each new Aarktica release. Ever since 2000’s No Solace in Sleep, Jon DeRosa’s post-punk/darkwave/ambient project has been characterized by gorgeous atmospherics and heartfelt songwriting that feel unique in those genres.

In 2023, DeRosa released Paeans, a purely instrumental album that tapped into the same contemplative arrangements as Stars of the Lid and A Winged Victory for the Sullen. But with this year’s Ecstatic Lightsongs, DeRosa delivers “a sonic love letter to [his] earliest influences,” exploring and evoking the artists that initially inspired him, like Talk Talk and The Durutti Column.

Indeed, Vini Reilly’s deft touch echoes throughout “Trick of the Light”’s delicate guitar filigrees, which dance above plaintive synth melodies and Mike Pride’s stuttering drums. Meanwhile, DeRosa’s rich baritone finds balance in Britt Warner’s lovely voice. What’s more, that same attention to sonic detail can be heard throughout the album, particularly on songs like “To Love is To Believe” and “Laughing in the Rain.”

Ecstatic Lightsongs is currently available on HanaqPacha Records.