The NME dubbed Bright Light Bright Light (Rod Thomas to you) "the male Robyn in all but name" in June this year, when his debut album Make Me Believe In Hope dropped, to mouth agape wonder by the dance music aficionados on the other side of the pond. But it is a misnomer, because Rod doesn't have the pop inflections, the Abbaisms of Robyn, instead he is a soft cell soul soft soap with an ear for House Music circa the 1980s. Or as Rod puts it on his blog "He makes pop music, remixes other artists, co-runs London clubnights Another Night and Comfortable Shoes, and has a huge love of music, largely from 1988-1996."
Pretty cool, right?
So cool,I didn't hear about his performances at Cake in January and Pianos in August, a mistake I wont be making again.
The album is terrific, the backing track beats are astoundingly gorgeous, you can't stop listening to em on opening track "Immature" and the vocals are English in a Neil Tennant way, but not as light and ethereal. There is a gorgeous sinking feel to the album and on to perfectly crafted gem after perfectly crafted gem. Certainly Make Me Believe In Hope is a possible best English album of the year.
Still from Bright Light Bright Light's blog: " Rod has made a name for himself with his brand of late 80s / early 90s influenced electronic pop. His bootlegs of both his own work and of his favorite songs add a healthy touch of wit and personality to his sets, and his remixes of Kelis and Ellie Goulding have become blog favorites.
OK, so self recommendation is no recommendation, but, according to Gigwise, the odds are excellent the album is gonna pick up a Mercury Award, which means he will be upgraded to Joe's Pub on Rod's next visit. And I WILL BE THERE.
Here is the trailer for the album… any questions? I didn't think so: