The Saturday Sound — Week 7
From Indian Lakes — Dimly Lit
By Gavin Dransfield
As I’m writing this, I’m sitting in the library and listening to Dimly Lit, the fifth full-length release from the incredibly talented Joey Vannucchi, under the pseudonym From Indian Lakes. The album was released just today — an arrival I’ve waited for and anticipated for years — and this is already the third or fourth time I’ve put it on. Needless to say, it’s everything this diehard fan wanted, from the plucky synths and earthy guitars to the casual nuances of sporadic sound effects and subversive rhythms; however, the fresh batch of songs (a whopping 16 tracks in total) brings much more to the table than what could’ve been expected from what Vannucchi has referred to as a “fully independent” release. As with every other From Indian Lakes album, Dimly Lit retains the familiar and entirely unique air of the project while playing in a whole new ballpark of sounds; but as a work composed almost entirely solo, it adds a new layer of personality and intimacy that is unmatched by any of Vannucchi’s previous endeavors.
The album opens with a bang in “New Love,” a dreamy and groovy track very reminiscent of the project’s last release, 2016’s eclectic Everything Feels Better Now. Soft guitars and sugary synthesizers swell interchangeably on top of a steady rock beat as Vannucchi croons in his distinctive, wispy tenor. It’s the perfect opening to evoke that “Oh yeah, this is a From Indian Lakes album, let’s go” sort of feeling, building your anticipation for the tracks to come. And you won’t be let down.
The next tune, “Dissonance,” is more aggressive, and the first of several on the album to feature guest singer Soren Bryce. A chugging bass and sharp drums anchor the song as Bryce and Vannucchi harmonize:
“You were holding out / I was in the daylight / But now it’s burning me up / You were never there / It was only one night / And now I’m back in the dark.”
The lyrics of this album are perhaps the most familiar element of all, showcasing Vannucchi’s common employment of situational poetry — “I was…” and “You were…” and “It was…” — a writing approach found throughout From Indian Lakes’ discography since their 2009 debut. It’s a style that gives added weight to the songs, as if Vannucchi were saying through his tender metaphors that “This thing happened, and I wrote this song because I’m still dwelling on it.” Every song he writes is a portrait of himself, his weaknesses, his mistakes. Every song is an autobiography.
Several tracks later on the album see Vannucchi treading into new, unprecedented territory. “Your Heartbeat Against Mine” opens with a chirpy, almost playful melody on top of a lighthearted groove. “Did We Change” features a series of ghostly synth notes that follow a rhythm disjointed from that of the rest of the song. “Faces” undergoes a jarring, abrupt key change as soon as Vannucchi starts singing on the tails of a pulse-pounding introduction. And “Cover My Eyes,” “A Bad Dream,” and “Almost There” all build on top of cloudy synthesizers that could’ve been ripped straight from a vaporwave album. This toolbelt of unconventional touches gives Dimly Lit a dash of unfamiliarity that will intrigue and captivate even the newest of newcomers to From Indian Lakes.
And it wouldn’t be a From Indian Lakes album without a few moody tearjerkers as well. “ULS,” with its low, resonating jabs, delivers enough dark and chilly atmosphere to drench a quiet bedroom for a whole night. Sure, it would make a fantastic smoking song or drinking song (although I don’t condone either), but it’s better to listen and let it gnaw at your heart with no distractions. And if it doesn’t succeed at slowing you down, then the following track, “When It’s Love You Want,” will stop you dead in your tracks nonetheless. This one will do more than just evoke the memories of every snowstorm you’ve ever seen; it’ll numb your fingers and soak through your clothes as well. And it’ll hold you there, even after it ends.
Dimly Lit has all the ingredients for a good old From Indian Lakes album and then some. It has everything a new album needs, plus more than either fan or newcomer alike could ask for; and if you ask me, that’s cause for celebration. So sometime this weekend, help me celebrate by putting on your cozy fall clothes, popping in your earbuds, and listening to it start to finish (perhaps even on repeat, if you like). Go on a walk, or hole up somewhere warm and quiet; it doesn’t matter. Either way, the journey will be unforgettable.
Stream the album:
