While we await the debut record from Wellington based ambient explorers, Glass Vaults, a string of singles and EPs have provided a breadcrumb trail of what we might expect. The Bright EP is the latest in this series and could well provide the biggest clue as to what direction the eventual long player will take.
Core members, Richard Larsen and Rowan Pierce continue to evolve the Glass Vaults sound on Bright, with four delicately crafted tracks featuring washed out, airy vocals, harp-like guitars and an array of looped trickery crafting a series of dynamic soundscapes. Although never breaking out of a walking pace, there's a natural progression throughout the EP as the opening track 'Alight' sets the scene with harp-like guitars underscoring distant vocals before ‘Bright’ steps the synths up a notch and adds a hint of darkness to proceedings.
Closer, 'Don't Be Shy' is the pick of the bunch with its ever-building layers of synth, guitar and drums developing trance-like, towards a statically charged finish. If debut record, Sojourn (slated for release next year) starts as strong as this EP finishes, things will be looking bright indeed.
