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White Lies – Night Light

White Lies – Night Light
White Lies – Night Light | Album review

In recent years, most recording artists have fine-tuned their songs within the comfort of professional studios, supported by teams of producers and engineers. White Lies, however, take a different path on their seventh album, Night Light: frontman Harry McVeigh, bassist Charles Cave and drummer Jack Lawrence-Brown crafted and recorded the project entirely in McVeigh’s spare room. That intimate, hands-on process gives Night Light’s nine tracks an organic, self-assured quality, and the result is a cohesive, yet adventurous journey through rock subgenres, showcasing a band confident enough to redefine its own sound.

Nothing On Me opens the record with brisk pacing and electronic polish, setting an energetic tone far removed from the post-punk and indie-rock stylings of their past. All the Best follows seamlessly, slowing the tempo for a dramatic, classic-rock atmosphere. It stands out as one of the album’s highlights: McVeigh’s vocals evoke the psychedelic edge of the 1970s, the post-chorus guitar grooves shimmer, and the lyrics remain clear and resonant amid the lush production. Together, these tracks establish the album’s balance between familiarity and reinvention.

White Lies have long been known for elevating their songs through dynamic live performances, and Night Light is built with that energy in mind. Songs like Keep Up, Juice, and I Just Wanna Win One Time pulse with crowd-ready choruses, bold basslines and powerful guitar riffs. White Lies show their versatility, however, with the bright, 80s-inspired pop-rock tune Everything Is OK and the sustained retro charm of Going Nowhere. McVeigh’s experimental intonation recalls icons like David Bowie and Talking Heads’ David Byrne, adding a touch of classic-rock nostalgia that suits him well. The title track ties these influences together, confirming the trio’s continued curiosity and command of genre-blending.

In the Middle closes the album with an expansive six-minute finale that threads together everything Night Light explores. The electronic vitality of Nothing On Me and All the Best resurfaces, the conversational delivery of Going Nowhere returns, the airy, ballad-like chorus of Everything Is OK blooms once more, and the record culminates in exhilarating instrumental solos, creating an ending destined to captivate live audiences.

Ultimately, with the help of producer Riley McIntyre, White Lies have translated the raw intimacy of their creative process into a record that celebrates music’s limitless possibilities. Through nostalgic references and playful experimentation, McVeigh, Cave, and Lawrence-Brown deliver a striking, confident addition to their discography.

Taryn Crowley
Image: Jono White

Night Light is released on 7th November 2025. For further information or to order the album, visit White Lies’s website here.

Watch the video for In the Middle here:

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