Little Weight” began as a solo project for Patrick Walker. He locked himself away in a cottage in Cornwall before taking to Gothenburg to collaborate with drummer Andrew Prestige. They then rehearsed in the Peak District and recorded the album in London.
The opening paragraph is like in a travel blog style to underline how much of themselves the band has put into “Little Weight.”
The time spent crafting the album was well worth it. “Pour Your Love” is a gorgeous, epic, and welcoming track that sets 40 Watt Sun apart from other bands.
“Half A World Away” builds more slowly, but its textures are as vast and beautiful as the locations that inspired it. “Astoria” is heavier but still manages to find a melody and beauty. Walker finds poetry everywhere, even in the darkness of his “lonely thoughts.”
There are moments when Walker’s singing reminds you of Eddie Vedder, but the guitar work is so original and longing that it sets the band apart.
“Feathers” adopts a lighter tone, featuring acoustic guitars, but it still seems to exist in the darkness and shadows of reflection.
“Closer To Life” goes straight in without an intro, but it is just as lush and expansive as the rest of the album. If the other tracks felt epic, the last one, “The Undivided Truth,” truly is. It is a ten-minute tour de force that is perfect for losing yourself in, just as Walker envisioned. The song discusses love, beauty, and truth, reaching a crescendo that is perfect for “Little Weight.”
The long hours of preparation were worth it because this is the kind of album that only 40 Watt Sun would do.
If Pallbearer were British, they might sound similar, but 40 Watt Sun shine a unique sound that shines on their own. They sound especially electric on this album.
Rating: 8.5/10
REVIEW: 40 WATT SUN – LITTLE WEIGHT (2024)
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