Underneath

Floodlights are at their most expansive to date on their third album. Adding Sarah Hellyer on piano, trumpet and harmonies, the Melbourne band achieve added lift on their classic-sounding rock songs. If singer/guitarist Louis Parsons remains the focal point thanks to his rich and resonant delivery of thoughtful, compassionate lyrics, his bandmates provide the heft to earn those repeated Midnight Oil comparisons. By the time opener “Alive (I Want to Feel)” takes full flight, there are echoes of Arcade Fire and other widescreen heavy-hitters. Producer Dan Luscombe (Amyl and The Sniffers) ensures that open space is a constant presence, even during the most intense moments. But as desperate as Parsons sounds during parts of “Can You Feel It”, the music remains propulsive and sharply melodic. Similarly, his foreboding spoken-word intro on “The Light Won’t Shine Forever” mingles with glistening guitar tones before the song kicks in more triumphant gear. While Parsons describes having the wind at his back, there’s the thrilling sense of being thrust forward musically too. As much as 2023’s <i>Painting of My Time</i> felt like a breakthrough for Floodlights, <i>Underneath</i> adds more depth and scope without losing the intimacy and immediacy that hit so hard the last time around.