Sunlight Echoes

Between Whitelands first and second albums, it evolved from an unfocused alt/indie solo project into a Slowdive-inspired shoegaze four-piece that landed on the Sonic Cathedral label. That second album, Night-Bound Eyes Are Blind to the Day, made new fans including Slowdives Neil Halstead, who toured with the group in 2024. Whitelands singer/guitarist Etienne Quartey-Papafio and band further develop their sound on third album Sunlight Echoes, which finds them taking their audioscapes in brighter, dream poppier directions on occasion while also expanding their swirling, hazier atmospheres. Quartey-Papafios lyrics remain sociopolitical in nature, as he bears witness to the genocide in Gaza on the buzzy, clattering, and angsty "Dark Horse," and turns to the likes of Luigi Mangione and Spike Lees Do the Right Thing on the warmer and more elated "Heat of the Summer," a sweetly melodic song more specifically about community. Arguably their poppiest song yet, "Songbird (Forever)" is a similarly hopeful-feeling entry that still relies on soaring synths and echoing layers of guitars but finds a radio-friendly demeanor through its lively grooves and tuneful vocal melody. The catchy "Blankspace" features murkier timbres, but racing drums plow through any resistance, encouraged by melodic, howling guitar motifs, all symbolic of the songs themes of overcoming grief and thoughts of mortality. None other than Rides Emma Anderson is featured on the relatively stripped-back "Sparklebaby," a song consisting mostly of harmonic layers of strummed, echo-washed guitar and towering vocals. Elsewhere, while remaining in the shimmery-noise realm, the melancholy "Mirrors" was influenced musically by emo and hardcore. Despite some heavy subject matter and dark colors along the way, Sunlight Echoes is aptly titled and closes on the hopeful "Golden Daze," which plays with density and clarity. Its an engaging sound adjustment for the band thats unlikely to leave many fans of their label debut behind. ~ Marcy Donelson