Brightly self released single "Sarah"

Autotune is one of those tools that, along with the cheap electronic glitchy drum machines is best used by embracing it's cheesy quality completely. If you're trying to hide a bad performance, you aren't getting the point of this insane way to manipulate a vocal.

A-Side's "Sarah" from the Melbourne based band, Brightly, wastes no time in getting right to the electronic vocal, and it has absolutely nothing to do with Charlie's ability, who is clearly gifted with a soulful emotive delivery on this one. It seems to be working in the way that Tunng is combining those abrasive electronic elements into an otherwise plaintive folk track. It's almost minimal in it's composition, a clear, timid acoustic and piano work up to the main beat, subtle electronic sweeps rise and fade just under the surface, while this impossibly fluttering vocal works against the heartbreaking place "Sarah" is going. As if this mournful ballad might be too much to take otherwise, they're after taking classic songwriting elements and turning the whole thing on it's head with the kitchy effect. It leaves you questioning the place this character is coming from, his motives behind this lovesong. To blatantly draw attention to this jarring manipulation definitely says something about the authenticity of the sentiment, beyond just being a clever statement about pop music in general.
B-Side's "Doubt" starts out with high pitch droning tones that end up with a heavy saxophone solo blasting in, underneath a slow glitchy rhythm. The sax is quickly broken down into a one note looped sample as bridge for verses between Charlie's polished delivery. The glitch rhythm turns into mic'd handclaps, and Brightly keeps blurring that line between what is being performed and what has been emulated. Effortlessly switching between the 'real' elements and clearly digitally created, if you aren't listening closely, you might miss it and that feels like the point here. It's all on an equal playing ground, and Brightly is doing a hel of a job elevating those unworthy sounds to something greater than it's parts.

Import only on super thick (lathe cut?) clear vinyl, with hand painted sleeves and download card direct from the band.