Chris Brain – Two Lights Review

Chris Brain continues his rise as one of the flagship folk players. Outstanding work is frequent and his warm appeal continues on Two Lights. Two Lights from New Light suggests a bright spark still burns. It does. Bound to Rise and Steady Away serve as wonderful albums, easy to return to and even better when getting some fresh, autumnal-like perspective. Those early cracks of sunlight, the lighter skies in an evening serve Two Lights wonderfully. A brighter time is in sight and it informs Brain’s work here. There is sometimes no better end to a week than a relaxing experience. But make no mistake, Two Lights is not just a short and sweet track of acoustic wonder but a sturdy, tremendously written song which kickstarts the next steps for Brain.  

What Brain is striving for here is the collaboration of solitude and spirited studio settings. He finds this with a welcome ease, a sense of direction and purpose in every note as he stokes the flames of folk. That fire needs just an acoustic guitar and Brain’s wise-sounding, solid lyrics. Those tones of darkest nights and the brightness we find in those lights, whatever they may signify for a listener, Brain keeps it open enough to plant yourself in reception of moments to hold on to, to consider with endearment. Two Lights is a charming piece, a song which has a brevity to its tone and instrumentals. True to form, Brain is shifting his inspirations, finding new sources of instrumental accessibility in the tones of a studio presence. They are not such a great shift that it becomes unrecognisable but there is a strength in these new additions.  

Two Lights is not a one man and his guitar affair but those slight flourishes and arrangements bring on the sense of change and self-evaluation suitable around this time of year. We are only a month and a bit into the year – seeing how course is being maintained, where the shortcomings are, is easier with song. Two Lights offers that. A start and an end point. We are between the two lights and in there too is Brain, not so much a guide as he is a participant in this journey with the rest of us. He is not above or below us, but along for the vulnerable ride we must persevere on. Steady and impressive playing all the way through and a sense of finding a new perspective takes form. Not for the sake of it, never glance for no reason, but it should be easy to let the two lights draw a few shadows which form interesting shapes.  

Two Lights certainly takes interesting form. Another breath of fresh folk air with a few flourishes which elevate it to the next level. Brain was hinting at this on Steady Away and his finger-plucking acoustic charms on Two Lights are an extension. They are the next steps nobody could quite see in the autumnal fog of his second record, now blistering obvious and wonderfully maintained as he travels through those tones of self-reflection. Whatever time in your life it comes, there is always a moment for contemplation. Whether it is full-on re-evaluation or an acceptance of where you now find yourself, whatever the case, Two Lights captures the here and now, the then and what is to come, tremendously.