Chicago-based indie rockers The Transference deliver their debut LP, Floodlights, with an eclectic concoction of dark reflections and playfulness. Born from the ashes of a previous band and sparked by pandemic-era demos, the group, fronted by singer, songwriter, and keyboardist Laura Hollingsworth alongside Alex Karan on drums, MJ Johnson on bass, guitarist Justin Wheeler, and vocalist Andrea Santiago, formalizes a visceral sound. With synths, pedal steel, vibraphone, and harmonium sneaking into the arrangements, there’s always a little surprise waiting around the corner. Released digitally in July and gearing up for a vinyl launch at Schuba’s on September 9, the record is coming fully geared.
The opener, “Circling the Square,” brings lighthearted riffs and buoyant drumming that bubble under Hollingsworth’s chirpy, soaring vocals. When she sings, this contentment trails above the instruments, mirroring lyrics about driving, spinning, and breathing freely with someone you love. It’s catchy and festive, like a road trip anthem with a quirky edge.
But the album doesn’t just play it safe. “Aliens” is a standout with its thumping rhythm and heavy, gritty undercurrent, pairing tenderness with urgency. The lyrics lean cosmic, weaving childhood memories of the open sky with musings on truth and deception. When Hollingsworth insists, “I told you there were aliens,” it lands less as fantasy and more as a metaphor for unseen truths, carried by a rhythm that keeps you hooked.
Later, “Sunsets” closes things down with a gentler, soul-soothing palette. Shaking percussion, warm melodies, and layered harmonies give the track a dreamlike halo, while Hollingsworth’s thicker, richer vocal tone grounds the ballad with such warmth. She sings, “You keep rising in my mind/Like a compass flower/Riding high.” It’s reflective and poignant, like dusk settling over a restless city.
Listen to Floodlights by The Transference on Spotify.
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Review by: Naomi Joan