Though just over a year separates The Waeve’s new album, City Lights, from their 2023 debut, the two records reveal remarkably different worlds. On their first collaboration, Graham Coxon and Rose Elinor Dougall crafted an almost dreamlike atmosphere, blending beauty and tenderness with a lurking sense of unease. Their vocals, combined with modular synths and Coxon’s saxophone, evoked a blend of Broadcast, Talk Talk, and 70s folk, while occasionally veering into more complex territory with hints of prog and post-punk.
City Lights retains some of these elements—like the serene acoustic flow of “Simple Days,” the motorik pop of “You Saw,” and the sprawling progressive rock journey of the eight-minute “Druantia”—but this time they have evolved into something bolder, more expansive, and assured. Co-produced by James Ford, the album occasionally takes on a sharper, more aggressive tone. The title track features a jagged art-rock squall, and “Broken Boys” offers a jarring soundscape reminiscent of Cabaret Voltaire. Lyrically, City Lights trades the abstract, image-laden style of its predecessor for a more personal and direct approach, making it clearer who or what they’re addressing.
Dougall notes that this time around, the band had a clearer identity, which provided more structure to their creative process. The different circumstances under which City Lights was created played a significant role in shaping its sound. Back in 2020, both Coxon and Dougall were in a state of limbo. They met backstage at a charity gig at London’s Jazz Café, where Dougall proposed the idea of writing songs together. Having recently returned to London after a stint in LA, Coxon was unsure of his next steps until Dougall’s suggestion sparked a new creative partnership. Their collaboration has matured since then, and City Lights is a testament to their evolving chemistry, showcasing a band confidently exploring and redefining their musical identity. Watch below and let us know your thoughts: