I’ve been in a few bands over the years, and I can tell you that trying to come up with a band name is not easy. Most band-name brainstorms end with hurt feelings, crumpled pieces of paper, and dictionaries hurled over the shoulder in frustration.
Cool band names are not a problem for Dino Spiluttini, however. Not only is his given name pretty cool, but consider some of the bands he’s been involved in over the years:
- Liger
- Duran Durandom
- Swan Fangs
- Yeah Pretty Boy
- Beatismurder
The name of his current incarnation, Islands Of Light, is perfect nomenclature for the music on his new album, Ruebke, scheduled for release this Friday on the Japanese label Home Normal. It’s a floating, humming soundscape of deceptive simplicity, and the Islands Of Light moniker brings to mind the surreal view from a plane window at night, when glowing polka-dots spread out beneath you like…well, like islands of light.
What makes this a beautiful song:
1. The title. I have no idea what “Saendscho” means, so don’t ask. But if I had to guess, I’d say it’s the name of the flip-flops they sell at Ikea.
2. There’s no discernible verse or chorus, just a succession of chords. Like a piano stretching its legs before a long walk.
3. Every time the left hand starts to hint at some lower notes, the chords retreat back up high, giving the song a feeling of weightlessness.
Recommended listening activity:
Writing your name in glue and then covering it with sparkles.