SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: SUN FREEZING COLD – AT THE SPEED OF LIGHT

SUN FREEZING COLD
AT THE SPEED OF LIGHT
INDEPENDENT

Sun Freezing Cold is a duo based in Montreal, consisting of Chantal Ranger (vocals/lyricist) and Guy Pellerin (music/production). They are a very grassroots electro-pop band. Grassroots because they have that D.I.Y attitude and it pays off.  At The Speed Of Light is their second album. The album is full of very catchy and well-produced electronic based pop rock music. The duo has developed their own sound and meshed together a number of influences to create distinct Sun Freezing Cold music. Of course, there are surprises here and there and it makes for an interesting and enjoyable listening experience.

At The Speed Of Light is an album that has its foundation in pop music but mixes in other genres as well. Sometimes they infuse some rhythm and blues (the opening track, “Nothing Gets To Me” or the wonderful “Hangin’ Over My Head”) or at times they are more alternative (“Never Again” which taps into the mid-1980s synth sound) or just straight ahead pop (the title track). Then there are other treats as well, such as “For Goodness’ Sake”. Here they slow things down, and come up with a very melodic, and heartbreaking song. But they save the best for last, with the remarkable “I’ll Burn Everything On My Way Out”, which is an interesting and angry tune, musically and lyrically.

Ranger has very strong vocals and she attacks each song with a different sound. Although she wears some of her influences on her sleeve, overall, she creates her own distinct sound. Her vocals fit the styles that musical partner Pellerin presents her. In this sense, they make a great duo. Pellerin’s production is excellent and the album sounds fantastic.

The music on this album is on one hand adventurous and on the other familiar. When listening to the album, it feels like you have heard these songs before, but you quickly realise you have not. This is an excellent art in writing songs. Sun Freezing Cold has created music that is instantly accessible without being cliché. Montreal has always been a hotbed of electronic music. It continues to this day with a number of artists. Here, Sun Freezing Cold steps out into the spotlight with a great album. At The Speed of Light is very creative and enjoyable and fans of electronic-alternative-pop music will certainly find a great deal to like about this album.

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