Light Damage (Progressive Promotion Records PPRCD027, 2014)
Light Damage is the self-titled debut album of Luxembourgian progressive rock band Light Damage. Luxembourg is one of the smallest countries in the world, bordered by Belgium, Germany and France. Naturally, the progressive rock scene is not very large. The only other progressive bands I’m aware of are No Name and Supper’s Ready.
Light Damage started as a prog rock cover band playing music by Pink Floyd and Genesis. Eventually, the band dropped the covers and started developing its own material.
Although Luxembourgish, French and German are the official languages in Luxembourg, Light Damage uses English-language lyrics. The album opens with ‘Eden’, the longest piece on the album, clocking over 9 minutes. It begins with a great instrumental mix of tubular bells, keyboards and guitars. The theme of the album is about a person who loses a loved one. ‘Eden’ centers on the day of the loss. The protagonist is wandering around the rainy city before going home. This mini-epic has a neoprog feel with echoes of Marillion and IQ.
‘Eden’ segues into ‘Empty,’ where the main individual is back home and feels miserable, worthless, and purposeless. He drinks by himself until he falls asleep and dreams. ‘Empty’ is a much more interesting symphonic progressive rock track. The vocals are more varied, with whispers and outstanding guitar and keyboard interplay.
The third cut, ‘The Supper of Cyprianus,’ is probably the best on the album. This is the dream experienced by the protagonist. The creative vocals are a mix of Van der Graaaf’s Peter Hammill and Marillion’s Fish. The instrumentals sections feature lots of drama, illustrating the nightmarish dream that turns extremely unpleasant with the torture and murder of a young girl accused of witchcraft. ‘The Supper of Cyprianus’ ends with an epic grand finale in classic progressive rock tradition.
On track 4, ‘Heaven’ the group adds some hard rock riffing which makes it the least attractive piece. This composition depicts a false heaven, the one made in the brain by medication and drugs.
The short vignette ‘F.H.B. (For Helpful Buddies)’ has the best guitar work on the album, blending piano with various exquisite guitar layers. Here, the protagonist takes a break. It’s an opportunity to suspend time, remembering all his friends.
The album ends with ‘Touched’ where the vocals become really interesting, mixing various styles in a memorable form. We are also treated to more superb guitar work. This last song describes touching the ground, the importance of family and friends, and how the choices we make are so important.
Light Damage was formed in September 2005. The lineup on the album includes Frédérik Hardy on bass, bass pedals, backing vocals; Nicholas-John on lead vocals, guitars, e-bow; Sébastien Pérignon on keyboards, percussion and tubular bells; Stephane Lecocq on lead guitars; and Thibaut Grappin on drums, percussion.