Light Upon the Lake

Whitney’s Light Upon the Lake exudes a polished sound, a quality not so common on a debut album. Part of this might stem from the fact that while Whitney is new, its members are not. A bulk of the band came from indie darlings the Smith Westerns, which disbanded in 2014, leading to Whitney and this first release. The album effortlessly exudes that 1970s pop quality; an R&B silkiness to the hooks’ tone, with strings and horns that feel like a huge melodic smile. Songs like “Golden Days” and “No Matter Where We Go” fall instantly into an easily digestible groove; perfect summer pop. There are moments that seem to reflect the aural sunny disposition of California bands like the beloved Mother Hips (“The Falls”), while others nod toward Whitney’s hometown of Chicago’s jazzy foundation (“Red Moon”). It sounds like a lot to get done in one album, but it’s done well.