Shards Review

Shards by BLINDNESS & LIGHT is an emotional journey through ups and downs following a protagonist in the pursuit of happiness. By the end of the track, they fall short of joy and are unable to reach that level of comfort in life. Seeing the journey develop through the track’s narrative is incredibly intense and powerful. Whilst the story ends on a sour note, the overall journey is cathartic. The vocal performance is very important as the song has a complex and evolving narrative. They do a great job of representing the joyous moments throughout the track with confidence and bold delivery. On the other side of this, the sad moments are portrayed with deep desperation.

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The words aren’t only sung but felt by the vocalist and this deep emotional connection is contagious, affecting the listener as much as it feels it is affecting the vocalist. I feel like the lower moments of the track are expressed with more intensity than the moments of levity. Perhaps this is by design, with each ebb and flow between joy and sadness pushing the track downwards. The guitar performance is crisp and sharp, adding a brightness to the track’s timbre while also impacting the rhythmic foundation with its strumming. The drums are also a key component to the rhythm and timbre with a bassy, weighty sound. They drive the pace, adding energy without detracting from the inherent sadness at the core of this track’s DNA. It is brilliant to see a track play with a heightened energy level while not compromising its tone. This is a hard thing to achieve as normally the darker moments of a track require a more languid musical tone. That is not to say the track is energetic and confident from start to finish. The track also excels in the quiet pauses between these energetic peaks. You feel the wallowing despair of the protagonist in these moments. This diversity and contrast feels especially impactful, emphasising the highs and lows with the contrast of each other. 

I love the tonal diversity and in depth of storytelling on display in Shards. Make sure to check out their merch here.