SELF-DESCRIBED“exploratory rock” band WL originally composed their latest release to soundtrack René Laloux’s bizarre 1988 animated film Gandahar, a surrealist sci-fi fable about a utopia in perfect harmony with nature that’s suddenly under siege. Its French tag line translates to “The Light Years”—presumably the inspiration for the Portland three-piece’s new album’s title, Light Years.
Misty Mary (vocals/bass/keyboards), Stevie Nistor (drums/keyboards), and Michael Yun (guitar/keyboards) joined forces as WL in 2012, and released their debut full-length, Hold, the following year. On Light Years, WL fleshes out all of Hold’s best moments, like the subtle intensity of its closing track, “You’re Not Really Here.” The resulting seven tracks are stormy, complicated, and strangely beautiful.