Vincent Draper and The Culls
Night Light

Self-released
Street: 4.16.21
Vincent Draper and The Culls = King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard + Foo Fighters 

Night Light by Vincent Draper and The Culls creates a strong feeling of anticipation. The first track’s slow entrance and single-note intro make it mysterious and promising, like the beginning of a romance you’re not convinced of. I think the first song of an album is an important one—it lays out the canvas for the picture the artist hopes to paint by the end. It holds the promise of an experience. This first track excited me. It made me think that the adventure I was about to embark on would bring me the answers to the questions the first track made me ask. Unfortunately, Night Light did not bring any such answers. 

The intrigue of Night Light’s first track, “Ghost,” laid in the melodic simplicity it held, evoking an almost psychedelic emotion. But as the album continued, the simplistic tone of “Ghost” did not fade—in fact, it was only exacerbated. This is not to say that there is anything wrong with a simple album, but the simplicity just didn’t feel genuine here. The lack of sound development, or even variety, felt unintended because of the dramatic mood, voice and lyrics each song held. It didn’t feel like an earnest result of what the artist had in mind—instead it felt like a close second.

Interestingly, the best parts of the best tracks on this album were saved for the end. Take the second track, “Guest List,” which spends roughly the last minute taking on a rock-like vibe with more intense drums and fewer vocals. Or, alternatively, you could look at my personal favorite, “Lit Me Up.” This tune uses the last bit as almost a decompression of what the first part of the track created through the use of guitar. But even with these two songs showing some variety, the generally laid-back tone of the album and monotonous voice of the lead singer detracted from the potential it holds. –Theadora Soter