City Riots

Overview

Many a great album has been penned during an extensive period of self-imposed isolation. Joni Mitchell famously composed Blue while travelling alone in Europe, on the heels of a tough break-up. More recently, Justin Vernon emerged from three months spent "hibernating" in the Wisconsin woods with For Emma, Forever Ago under his arm.

In a move at odds with their name, Adelaide-based band City Riots spent the summer before last in a remote shack in the South Australian countryside. The seclusion inspired no fewer than 40 new songs, the best of which made their way onto the group's debut LP, Sea of Bright Lights. "It was really important ... that we set time aside to work on honing our craft," vocalist/guitarist Ricky Kradolfer told the Brag.

Continuing the group's indie-pop, nostalgia-sprinkled feel, the album introduces a more sophisticated aesthetic, with thoughtfully layered guitar textures and rich dashes of reverb.