Subside E.P.

Reviewed By Mark @ Losing Today.com

Damn this is gorgeous; I’d almost forgotten what it was like to fall head over heels in love with a record. Now its not often that you get a CD that simply forces you to stand in awe muttering wooaa, but then not many records are like this debut outing from Halflight. Halflight are a Cardiff based quartet who were recently voted the best new band in Wales after topping the A&R panels in the 200 band competition Shout Out. Led by singer songwriter Sarah Howells who in a previous life was a member of Jylt who signed to UglyMan Records the label responsible for putting out the exceptional ‘To You’ by I am Kloot, released one single ‘Surrender’ and then disappeared off the radar. Now refreshed and back with a vengeance, this dainty four track EP houses some of the most crushing moments we’ve had oozing their way from our hi-fi’s speakers in such a long time. References to Tanya Donelly and Kirsten Hersh are not offered lightly, neither are the subtle pointers to the Delgados and Sweeder’s ‘Swallowed by the Sun’ debut (especially on the up tempo opener ‘where the pins drop’) as Halflight teeter that fine line between beauty and cruelty. Like 'Singled Out' favourites Anna Kashfi, Halflight have in their ranks a vocalist in Howells whose softening tones hold a lifetime of scars and bruises borne out of regret and loss that far exceed her youth. Complimented by a lone acoustic guitar, a cello and the gentle trace of drums don’t for one second be fooled into thinking that sparse means empty, again like Anna Kashfi, Halflight are adept at creating an exquisite line in melody that’s deep in emotion and rich in vibrancy. Tales of regret and deep introspection pave the way here, harrowingly intimate and so explicit you can almost touch the wounds, the crushing ‘Treading Water’ must surely rank as one of the most haunting and openly candid compositions ever committed to tape, enchanting and hurt it kisses gently to leave an everlasting bruise ensuring its fading glimmer is locked away in a secret dark place forever in your psyche. The elegant strings within ‘Sixfour’ exude a delicate spellbinding ghostly texture that would not be found wanting or out of place where it sat on Kate Bush’s ‘The Kick Inside’ while the sorrowfully parting ‘Photos’ is racked with the kind of resigned fate of helplessness as to make you either seethe with anger wanting to know who the culprit responsible for the pain is so you can have a gentle word, or else have you crying bucket loads from now until Christmas. And with that the esteemed Joint 'Single of the Missive', nuff said.

http://www.losingtoday.com/tales.php?id=41

Subside E.P.

Reviewed by: Andreas @ www.Rawkstar.net

"......It is the genuine feel of Halflight's songs that makes them stand out. Where other similar artists sound as if they've had some clever producer-bloke knock up some acoustic tracks, Sarah Howells sings with conviction. There's a real stream of emotion present in these songs, most notably the opening track, "Where the pin falls" and "Sixfour". Melancholy ever present, with cellos slashing across the quiet background of clean guitars, combined with Howells' emotional vocals makes for a powerful impression at times......."

Subside E.P.

Reviewed by: Bill Cummings @ God is in the T.V.
"This is Cardiff based Halflights debut EP, in reality they have built up a strong fan base in South Wales with their beguiling brand of tragic and poetic future folk. The brainchild of Sarah Howells, formerly of the indie rock band Jylt, Halflight certainly have an impressive sound.

Opener 'Where the pins drop' is a glorious slice of minimalist folk pop. Gorgeous melodies are matched by lyrics that have a haunting integrity not unlike those of Kristen Hersh.

Second Track 'Treading Water' (Jylts last composition ) is heartbreakingly minimal. Spectral electric guitar lines are backed by a yearning cello. Sarah stretches her voice to the limit, producing a melancholic and starkly emotive sound that suits the presumably autobiographical lyrics such as "kick my head in and let the light in before it gets to dark....keep my hands free just to catch some air cause I'm treading water."

Sixfour" is another graceful slice of acoustic beauty, that both haunts and touches this listener lines like "where are you now" instantly connect to a sense of loss and an emotional clarity not seen in much of the coffee-table folk around these days. A graceful debut from an artist who shows much promise."

Subside EP - Review

07/08/2004

"....... it seems there is a resurgent interest in taking heartfelt words and encapsulating them in beautiful, haunting music without verbosity or pretension. With fine exponents like Halflight around, let’s hope that’s not just a trend, as this is certainly nothing like ephemera." Skif

www.vanityproject.co.uk

Queens Hall, Narberth. 5th March 2004

"Causing more than a ripple of anticipation were Halflight, fronted by ex-Jylt member Sarah. This three-piece (two guitars and an electric cello - proving that less is often more) were utterly absorbing.

They unfurled their sweet, melancholy and exquisitely tuneful songs with a fluidity that you would expect from Sarah, as she showed us her emotional vocal range, culminating in one of Jylt's last songs, the very beautiful and powerfully emotive Treading Water, which Sarah dedicated to the memory of Nia. This minimalist line-up has always suited Sarah's voice and style of song writing, and I have a feeling that Halflight will soon be stepping out of the shadows as the limelight surely beckons."