Driving down Sunset Strip with the windows all the way down at midnight is a setting for Mama No Likey and their single Light Up The Night perfectly. The two-piece Los Angeles band immediately seizes the listener with a compelling guitar riff that sends shivers down the spine. Powerful vocals rule the band’s arrangement, adding a certain amount of rebelliousness to the mix, while guitars provide a solid rhythmic flow. It is a track full of freshness and a sense of freedom that reminds one of a discovery of a new indie band from the early 2000s.
As soon as the chorus begins after the verse, the song erupts in a euphoric blend of harmony and guitars. Power pop sensibility combines with the anthemic rock of the 2000s, but Mama No Likey adds their uniqueness to the mix. In particular, the combination of voices in the chorus sounds exceptionally uplifting, while instruments mimic the surfer’s feeling of hightailing it towards the ocean waves. Moreover, the solo part starting at 2:15 effortlessly demonstrates the band’s technical proficiency and virtuosity.
Above all, the band’s love for the sheer musicality of what they do comes out strongly in the way the instruments blend seamlessly. For instance, one can easily hear how the snare drum mimics the crash of surf fells rolling against California’s rocks. This aspect, along with the tightness of the bass and guitar, gives the composition its energetic punch. Notably, the clarity of arrangements allows the performers to emphasize every hook and chorus.
The track grabs the listener’s attention and keeps it firmly till the end of the recording. Mama No Likey has searched for the sound that would propel the band into the annals of rock history and found it. The single Light Up The Night is pure exhilaration that will keep one under its spell for many years to come.
