After years in the making here at last is Illumination, the fully realised debut album from Melbourne's favourite psychedelic indie-electronic adventurers Miami Horror. With Illumination, Miami Horror has delivered on two years of teeth-cutting live shows and an ever escalating wave of buzz that’s made the group bonafide blog darlings the world over. But what’s most amazing about the grand arrival of Illumination is that the roots of the record stretch back countless moons to when Miami Horror began as just one synthesizer-obsessed producer in 2007 huddled over a laptop in a bedroom-come-studio and the album itself just a spark waiting to be lit.
The afore mentioned synth tragic was, and let’s face it still is, electronic young gun Ben Plant, who kick started Miami Horror out of a love of Roland keyboards and French house, landing himself on Pitchfork’s hot-list overnight and copping a barrage of high profile remix requests from the likes of Datarock, PNAU and The Presets.
Yet it was while Ben was punching out 2008’s epochal Bravado EP that Miami Horror took off in a completely new and different direction. Characteristically wanting to flex his creative muscle and avoid the limitations of being stereotyped as simply a dance or electro act, Ben rewired Miami Horror’s genetic makeup, deputising the talents of Josh Moriarty, Aaron Shanahan and Daniel Whitechurch to form a new live band persona of Miami Horror, a whole new beast immeasurably more exciting than before.
“It started out that I didn’t want to have any guitar on the album besides a little funk guitar or disco bass,” Ben grins while explaining the turning point for Miami Horror’s evolution. “But then Josh came in and started playing all these other parts that sounded amazing. Paired with what I was working on, nobody was doing anything like it, so I knew we had to turn those sounds into a live thing and just go wild.”
It worked. Since the switch, Miami Horror has launched into dizzying new stratospheres, their well-polished chops as a group making for some unmissable sets at Australia’s biggest festivals, and that’s not to mention some A-list support slot call ups for everyone from Phoenix, Friendly Fires and La Roux to a hand-picked hook up from Lily Allen.
www.miamihorror.com
Soft Light
Miami Horror Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Born from the midnight
Strokes slowly to her side
Secrets sworn concealed tight
See the strange fires
Billow from her vacant eyes
Strange fires
Strange fires
Billow from her vacant eyes
Strange fires
Melting through my distant guise
Flame flickers a soft light (from a love we cannot touch)
Born from the midnight (how lovely it's to be)
Strokes slowly to her side (from above we let you shine)
Secrets sworn concealed tight (close your keeps until it comes)
See the strange fires
Billow from her vacant eyes
Strange fires
Melting through my distant guise
Strange fires
Billow from her vacant eyes
Strange fires
Melting through my distant guise
In Miami Horror's song Soft Light, the lyrics depict a mysterious and enchanting flame that flickers softly and was born out of midnight. The flame seemingly strokes slowly to the side of the singer, who describes the secrets it keeps concealed tight. The words 'See the strange fires, billow from her vacant eyes' suggests that the flame exudes an intense and almost enigmatic energy, which seemingly melts through the singer's distant guise, implying a certain vulnerability surrounding the persona.
The song offers a mystical and alluring image of something unknown and concealed while enthralling with its musical composition. It paints a picture of a person who is captivated and entranced by something almost untouchable. The singer might be releasing themselves from their perceived distance and moving closer, but more than that, it's about the unknown, mysterious, and untouchable essence that lies within other people and things that keeps them spellbound.
Line by Line Meaning
Flame flickers a soft light
The hope and warmth of a distant love that we cannot physically touch
Born from the midnight
This love is mysterious and magical like a moonlit night
Strokes slowly to her side
The love moves gently like a caress towards the beloved
Secrets sworn concealed tight
The love is kept hidden and protected like a precious secret
See the strange fires
The intense passion and desire that burns within the beloved's eyes
Billow from her vacant eyes
The way the fire blazes bright from the emptiness in her gaze
Strange fires
The unexplainable and uncontrollable nature of these passions
Melting through my distant guise
How the fire manages to break through the distance and walls keeping them apart
Strange fires
The love still burns bright and strong, no matter the distance or obstacles
Billow from her vacant eyes
The attraction and intensity of their desire is still strong, even from afar
Strange fires
Their passion is ineffable and other-worldly
Melting through my distant guise
The fire could break down anything and make their love stronger, even through the walls of separation
Contributed by Claire W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@jjujkkmjj2182
People sleep on Alan. So talented, smart and lovely
@ericvillarreal1813
Neon Indian
@kinglord3182
Miami Horror 😎👽🔥
@calvinengland
i think it's more the fact he hasn't released an album for nearly 6 years; i'm sure when he releases the next one people will sit up & listen
@hiimsaulcaveman
@@calvinengland nah he’s still an indie musician so I doubt people will find out about him but I really hope they find out. He’s made so many great songs like polish girl, Annie, psychic chasms etc.
@BohemianAndy
@@ericvillarreal1813 VEGA
@ryanleclaire3948
Man, this stirred a lot of memories inside me. It still sounds JUST as fresh then as It does now. Thank you for doing this. Illumination was and always has been my favorite album of all time.
@bobbyhogo2342
amazing album
@AN-jz3px
incredible album
@ivangarcialopez7086
This must be one of the most significant songs for me from Illumination.
I went 10 years back in time to those days I didn't really knew what to do with my life or how I perceived myself. Miami Horror helped me find the music, and therefore, the people who I would feel identified with. This band and their music will always be my safe place. Long live this album.