Released
in January, the sophomore effort by Virginia-based two-piece Illiterate Light
has demonstrated impressive staying power throughout the whole of 2023. A
complex indie rock record, fused with garage, dance-rock, shoegaze, and some
genre-defying experimentation (what exactly is happening on ‘Heaven Bends’?), Sunburned
is big school. There’s minimal lo-fi (on the likes of ‘Fuck LA’) right through
to full orchestra-backed grandiloquence (see opener ‘Wake Up Now’). Also of
note is that fact that are some (unexpected) quality riffs to be had here are
there too, for those who like that sort of thing (i.e., me). But rocking out is
never the true focus here. Instead, Illiterate Light are more interested
in leading us on a journey through desperation and disappointment, across a
range of musical styles. It’s all hugely impressive. Sunburned is not
exactly a ‘fun’ record, though, and its changes in direction mean it is
something of a moving target (musically, if not emotionally), which can be
difficult if you’re not giving it the entirety of your attention.