| Milagres — Violent Light (2014) |
Milagres — Violent Light
Γ Brooklyn-based Milagres are an indie rock band led by vocalist Kyle Wilson.
Location: Brooklyn, New York
Album release: February 25, 2014
Record Label: Memphis Industries/Kill Rock Stars
Duration: 38:14
Tracks:
01 Perennial Bulb 4:20
02 Terrifying Sea 3:38
03 Jeweled Cave 3:13
04 The Black Table 3:35
05 Column of Streetlight 4:26
06 The Letterbomb 3:29
07 Urban Eunuchs 3:48
08 Idnyl 3:20
09 Sunburn 3:58
10 Another Light 4:27
Written by: Fraser McCulloch / Kyle Wilson
All others: Kyle Wilson
Credits:
Γ Chris Brazee Group Member
Γ Mark Broschinsky Trombone (Bass)
Γ Stephanie Butterworth Graphic Design
Γ David Byrd-Marrow Horn
Γ Micah Killion Trumpet
Γ Angeli Lagasca Vocals
Γ Sarah Mae Lagasca Vocals
Γ Joe Lambert Mastering
Γ Matt Marks Horn
Γ Andrew Maury Mixing
Γ Fraser McCulloch Composer, Engineer, Group Member, Producer
Γ Matt Musselman Trombone
Γ Paul Payabyab-Cruz Group Member
Γ Diko Shoturma Engineer
Γ Peter Siskos Photography
Γ Kyle Wilson Composer, Group Member
Review by Timothy Monger; Score: ****
Γ When Brooklyn's Milagres first appeared in 2008, it was with the semi-acoustic and largely atmospheric mountaineering-themed album Seven Summits, which they recorded under the name the Secret Life of Sophia. One debilitating climbing accident, a name-change, and an inspired second album later, frontman Kyle Wilson and his bandmates are back with the glowing synth bombast of Violent Light. Continuing to mine his personal mythology, much of the album was inspired by Wilson's childhood trips to the deserts of New Mexico and his grandfather's involvement with the Manhattan Project and the development of the hydrogen bomb. Weighty stuff, for sure, but one of the most surprising things about Violent Light is how it balances its heavy conceptual undertones with a sort of sensual, mid-'80s neon glitz. A song like "Jeweled Cave" recalls latter day Roxy Music with its deep groove and icy sheen, while the seductive "Urban Eunuchs" and the sophisticated "The Letterbomb" recall Bowie in several of his guises. Throughout their career, Milagres have earned comparisons to Coldplay which are not unfounded, especially on big, melodic pop songs like "Terrifying Sea" or the falsetto-wielding synth pop of "Sunburn." Just because Milagres record for the Kill Rock Stars label doesn't mean they're an indie band in the traditional sense. Violent Light glows with the kind of big-budget sheen that used to only come from bands with a S.W.A.T. team of producers, A&R people, and lots of big-label money behind them. They have a big sound and reach for the same stars as stadium-filling veterans like Coldplay and U2, while still retaining their independent sense of artistry. If greater success follows them, treading that line between creativity and audience demand will become harder to do, but for now, Milagres have succeeded in making a unique and ultimately appealing record.
Artist Biography by Jason Lymangrover
Γ Brooklyn-based Milagres are an indie rock band led by vocalist Kyle Wilson. The group's first album, Seven Summits, was recorded on a farm in Massachusetts, but Wilson used his mountain-climbing background as an inspiration, basing the content around nature walks and stories from mountain guides. Soon after the album was completed, the frontman went on a climbing expedition and took a spill that resulted in a serious back injury. While bedridden, he wrote the bulk of their sophomore album. After he recovered, Chris Brazee, Steven Leventhal, Fraser McCulloch, and Eric Schwortz joined Wilson to record Glowing Mouth, which was released in January of 2012 by Kill Rock Stars. Now functioning as a full band, Milagres returned in February 2014 with their third LP Violent Light. Website: http://milagresmusic.com/music
MySpace: https://myspace.com/milagresmusic
Bandcamp: http://milagres.bandcamp.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MILAGRESband
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/milagresmusic
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/milagresmusic
Press: Sarah Avrin (US) @ Girlie Action | | Leah Wilson (UK) @ In House Press |
Agent: Ethan Berlin (US) @ Red Ryder Agency | Paul Boswell (UK/EU) @ Free Trade Agency | (UK/EU)
Also:
By Matt Arado, 28 March 2014; Score: 6
:: http://www.popmatters.com/review/180246-milagres-violent-light/
Michael Hann, The Guardian, Thursday 20 February 2014 22.30 GMT
:: http://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/feb/20/milagres-violent-light-review
By LUKE BEARDSWORTH, February 24th, 2014, Score: 6
Γ Milagres vocalist Kyle Wilson works as a waiter in a Michelin-starred restaurant, where he once waited on Lou Reed’s birthday party; 'David Bowie, Laurie Anderson, Julian Schnabel and Salman Rushdie were all at the table. I was a little bummed that I wasn’t meeting these people in another context.'
:: http://drownedinsound.com/releases/18092/reviews/4147450
BY ERIK THOMPSON, 25 FEBRUARY 2014, 11:30 GMT, SCORE: 7/10
:: http://www.thelineofbestfit.com/reviews/albums/milagres-violent-light-146886
Discography:
Γ Seven Summits (2008, Self Released)
Γ Glowing Mouth (2011, Kill Rock Stars (US), Memphis Industries (UK/EU))
Γ Violent Light (February 2014, Kill Rock Stars (US), Memphis Industries(UK/EU))
© Milagres — The Bowery Ballroom — April 10, 2014, Photo credit: Peter Senzamici 2014
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| Milagres — Violent Light (2014) |
Γ Brooklyn-based Milagres are an indie rock band led by vocalist Kyle Wilson.
Location: Brooklyn, New York
Album release: February 25, 2014
Record Label: Memphis Industries/Kill Rock Stars
Duration: 38:14
Tracks:
01 Perennial Bulb 4:20
02 Terrifying Sea 3:38
03 Jeweled Cave 3:13
04 The Black Table 3:35
05 Column of Streetlight 4:26
06 The Letterbomb 3:29
07 Urban Eunuchs 3:48
08 Idnyl 3:20
09 Sunburn 3:58
10 Another Light 4:27
Written by: Fraser McCulloch / Kyle Wilson
All others: Kyle Wilson
Credits:
Γ Chris Brazee Group Member
Γ Mark Broschinsky Trombone (Bass)
Γ Stephanie Butterworth Graphic Design
Γ David Byrd-Marrow Horn
Γ Micah Killion Trumpet
Γ Angeli Lagasca Vocals
Γ Sarah Mae Lagasca Vocals
Γ Joe Lambert Mastering
Γ Matt Marks Horn
Γ Andrew Maury Mixing
Γ Fraser McCulloch Composer, Engineer, Group Member, Producer
Γ Matt Musselman Trombone
Γ Paul Payabyab-Cruz Group Member
Γ Diko Shoturma Engineer
Γ Peter Siskos Photography
Γ Kyle Wilson Composer, Group Member
Review by Timothy Monger; Score: ****
Γ When Brooklyn's Milagres first appeared in 2008, it was with the semi-acoustic and largely atmospheric mountaineering-themed album Seven Summits, which they recorded under the name the Secret Life of Sophia. One debilitating climbing accident, a name-change, and an inspired second album later, frontman Kyle Wilson and his bandmates are back with the glowing synth bombast of Violent Light. Continuing to mine his personal mythology, much of the album was inspired by Wilson's childhood trips to the deserts of New Mexico and his grandfather's involvement with the Manhattan Project and the development of the hydrogen bomb. Weighty stuff, for sure, but one of the most surprising things about Violent Light is how it balances its heavy conceptual undertones with a sort of sensual, mid-'80s neon glitz. A song like "Jeweled Cave" recalls latter day Roxy Music with its deep groove and icy sheen, while the seductive "Urban Eunuchs" and the sophisticated "The Letterbomb" recall Bowie in several of his guises. Throughout their career, Milagres have earned comparisons to Coldplay which are not unfounded, especially on big, melodic pop songs like "Terrifying Sea" or the falsetto-wielding synth pop of "Sunburn." Just because Milagres record for the Kill Rock Stars label doesn't mean they're an indie band in the traditional sense. Violent Light glows with the kind of big-budget sheen that used to only come from bands with a S.W.A.T. team of producers, A&R people, and lots of big-label money behind them. They have a big sound and reach for the same stars as stadium-filling veterans like Coldplay and U2, while still retaining their independent sense of artistry. If greater success follows them, treading that line between creativity and audience demand will become harder to do, but for now, Milagres have succeeded in making a unique and ultimately appealing record.
Artist Biography by Jason Lymangrover
Γ Brooklyn-based Milagres are an indie rock band led by vocalist Kyle Wilson. The group's first album, Seven Summits, was recorded on a farm in Massachusetts, but Wilson used his mountain-climbing background as an inspiration, basing the content around nature walks and stories from mountain guides. Soon after the album was completed, the frontman went on a climbing expedition and took a spill that resulted in a serious back injury. While bedridden, he wrote the bulk of their sophomore album. After he recovered, Chris Brazee, Steven Leventhal, Fraser McCulloch, and Eric Schwortz joined Wilson to record Glowing Mouth, which was released in January of 2012 by Kill Rock Stars. Now functioning as a full band, Milagres returned in February 2014 with their third LP Violent Light. Website: http://milagresmusic.com/music
MySpace: https://myspace.com/milagresmusic
Bandcamp: http://milagres.bandcamp.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MILAGRESband
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/milagresmusic
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/milagresmusic
Press: Sarah Avrin (US) @ Girlie Action | | Leah Wilson (UK) @ In House Press |
Agent: Ethan Berlin (US) @ Red Ryder Agency | Paul Boswell (UK/EU) @ Free Trade Agency | (UK/EU)
Also:
By Matt Arado, 28 March 2014; Score: 6
:: http://www.popmatters.com/review/180246-milagres-violent-light/
Michael Hann, The Guardian, Thursday 20 February 2014 22.30 GMT
:: http://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/feb/20/milagres-violent-light-review
By LUKE BEARDSWORTH, February 24th, 2014, Score: 6
Γ Milagres vocalist Kyle Wilson works as a waiter in a Michelin-starred restaurant, where he once waited on Lou Reed’s birthday party; 'David Bowie, Laurie Anderson, Julian Schnabel and Salman Rushdie were all at the table. I was a little bummed that I wasn’t meeting these people in another context.'
:: http://drownedinsound.com/releases/18092/reviews/4147450
BY ERIK THOMPSON, 25 FEBRUARY 2014, 11:30 GMT, SCORE: 7/10
:: http://www.thelineofbestfit.com/reviews/albums/milagres-violent-light-146886
Discography:
Γ Seven Summits (2008, Self Released)
Γ Glowing Mouth (2011, Kill Rock Stars (US), Memphis Industries (UK/EU))
Γ Violent Light (February 2014, Kill Rock Stars (US), Memphis Industries(UK/EU))
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