aaamusic | On 15, May 2012

David Baker (ex-Mercury Rev)’s new band Variety Lights, sees his first new recorded material for eighteen years. The new album ‘Central Flow’ demonstrates that Baker has lost none of his flair for the extraordinary, the experimental and the exceptional.

As co-founder and vocalist of the critically acclaimed Mercury Rev, Baker helped to forge their revolutionary sound with their first two (and most critically acclaimed) albums; ‘Yerself Is Steam’ (1991) and ‘Boces’ (1993). The band were highly innovative and weren’t afraid to experiment but above all they were loud, fun and hugely influential. Having left the band in 1993, Baker went on to release a solo album ‘World’ under the moniker Shady, which featured members of the Boo Radleys, Rollerskate Skinny, Swervedriver and Th’ Faith Healers.

Much of Variety Lights’ debut was recorded by Baker at his own Over the Trees studio. The sound was created using a mixture of chained around-the-room 80’s era midi expanders as well as the duo’s collection of vintage keyboards and combining them with an array of drum machines and effected guitars.

In creating ‘Central Flow’s sound, Baker says that “personal adventure is and always has been the most important thing”. Baker and MacLean found themselves using references to colours, pictures and describing film scenes to help them communicate about their music. As in his early work, Baker took a richly layered approach, using multiple vocals in a search to find emotion in noises and sounds.

‘Central Flow’ will be out on Fire Records in 11th June 2012.