Church of the Very Bright Lights

Gang Crimes was written to serve as a sturdy starting point for the recording moniker of James Cullen: Church of the Very Bright Lights. Kris Ellestad, a somewhat reclusive, albeit immaculate, Calgary songwriter, recorded Gang Crimes during Spring 2010 in his private studio in Calgary, Alberta. Here, James Cullen (guitar / vocals) and Chris Reimer (drums) would sit down to record songs they had practiced throughout early months of 2010. Later, Matthew Flegel would join the duo as a bassist.

With a vast range of musical influences, from the melancholic folksters of Drag City to the bold, direct lyrical nature of Dischord Records' artists, Chris Reimer and James Cullen discussed crafting personal, emotive songs that would allow the listener to ‘feel’ without the burden of sifting through complicated, unnecessary arrangements. The result: a strippeddown, utilitarian, songwriting approach lending itself to a spacious, yet-somehow-lush, listening experience.

The opening instrumental track ‘Jerk Chicken’ rolls out quite simply; an unchanging back beat provides rhythm as warm, inviting, tones of bass and guitar gently find space to weave amongst one another with a particular, regal charm. ‘Words’, on the other hand, embodies an ever-shifting, dreamlike, guitar
phrasing that, paired with Matt Flegel's melodic bass line, continually propels the song, and lyrical subject matter, forward until the end (where cascading piano sends the song adrift).

With its simple samba beat, nylon acoustic and electric finger picking, and walking bass line, ‘Bone / Muscle’ is likely the most stirring, and sultry, of songs on Gang Crimes. Here, amidst an unconventional song structure, themes of dreams, desire, thievery, and failure blend seamlessly with the cinematic
musical accompaniment. ‘Lionsteeth’, the closing track, is a close second. Its undeniable brooding nature shifts and sways to a romanticised and grandiose melancholia.

The eight songs that make up Gang Crimes lend themselves to a progressive maturation in dealing with an accumulated, heavy subject matter; though, never burdensome enough to weigh heavily upon the listener. In Gang Crimes, James Cullen, with the assistance of Chris Reimer, emerged successfully with a grouping of songs that humbly manage to invoke a beautiful, timeless
listening experience.

Words Video