vinylfanatics.com

**TV On The Radio – Nine Types of Light**
★★★★☆

After bassist Gerard Smith's tragic death from lung cancer just days before the release of "Nine Types of Light" in April 2011, TV On The Radio found themselves grappling with profound loss while simultaneously celebrating what would become their most accessible and emotionally resonant album to date. The Brooklyn art-rock quintet had already established themselves as critical darlings with their previous efforts, particularly 2008's "Dear Science," but this fifth studio album arrived as both a creative triumph and a bittersweet farewell to a beloved bandmate.

The specter of mortality hangs over "Nine Types of Light" like morning fog, but rather than succumb to despair, Tunde Adebimpe, Kyp Malone, and Dave Sitek have crafted something unexpectedly warm and inviting. Gone are some of the more abrasive experimental flourishes that characterized their earlier work – the feedback squalls and rhythmic convulsions that made albums like "Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes" such thrilling but occasionally exhausting experiences. In their place, we find a band embracing melody and accessibility without sacrificing their essential weirdness.

The album opens with "Second Song," a deceptively simple track that builds from Adebimpe's tender vocals into a swirling orchestral arrangement that feels like watching sunrise through cathedral windows. It's a mission statement of sorts, announcing that this iteration of TV On The Radio is interested in beauty as much as innovation. The production, handled largely by Sitek with assistance from the band, favors warmth over clinical precision, wrapping these songs in a golden hue that makes even the most melancholic moments feel oddly comforting.

"Will Do" emerges as the album's most immediate triumph, a gorgeous meditation on commitment and devotion that showcases Adebimpe's falsetto against a backdrop of shimmering guitars and subtle electronic textures. It's the kind of song that reveals new layers with each listen – initially presenting as straightforward indie-pop before revealing its complex emotional architecture. Similarly stunning is "Caffeinated Consciousness," which marries Malone's more aggressive vocal style with lyrics that feel like stream-of-consciousness poetry set to a hypnotic groove that wouldn't sound out of place on a Massive Attack record.

The album's genre-hopping tendencies remain intact but feel more purposeful here. "You" channels classic soul through TV On The Radio's particular filter, complete with handclaps and a chorus that burrows into your brain and sets up permanent residence. "Repetition" finds the band exploring dancehall rhythms with typical irreverence, while "Keep Your Heart" strips things down to their emotional core – just voice, guitar, and the weight of unspoken feelings.

Perhaps most remarkably, "Nine Types of Light" manages to sound like a cohesive statement despite its stylistic diversity. This is art-rock that doesn't alienate, experimental music that invites rather than challenges, a collection of songs that work equally well as background music for dinner parties or late-night headphone sessions. The band's trademark layering is still present – Sitek's production creates dense sonic tapestries where every listen reveals new details – but everything serves the songs rather than overwhelming them.

The album's emotional peak arrives with "Killer Crane," a haunting ballad that seems to directly address Smith's passing without ever becoming maudlin. Adebimpe's vocals float over minimal instrumentation while the band creates an atmosphere of reverent space around his words. It's devastating and beautiful in equal measure, the kind of song that stops you in your tracks regardless of what you were doing when it comes on.

In the years since its release, "Nine Types of Light" has aged remarkably well, standing as perhaps TV On The Radio's most emotionally direct statement. While it may lack some of the revolutionary fervor of their earlier work, it compensates with maturity and a deeper understanding of how experimental techniques can serve traditional songcraft. The album represents a band at the peak of their powers, confident enough in their abilities to embrace accessibility without compromising their vision.

Smith's death marked the end of an era for TV On The Radio, and while they would continue making music, "Nine Types of Light" feels like the culmination of their classic lineup's journey. It's a fitting tribute to a fallen friend and a powerful reminder that sometimes the most radical thing an experimental band can do is simply write beautiful songs.