Transgalactica’s “Liberal Anthem,” the third track from their debut album Better Angels, is a bold, cerebral exploration of reason, freedom, and the humanist ideals that often go uncelebrated in modern discourse. Inspired by Steven Pinker’s Enlightenment Now, the song tackles the notion that no formal “liberal church” exists to glorify thinkers of rationality and progress. While Pinker himself advises against such institutionalization, Transgalactica leans into the idea with theatrical conviction with a musical platform where liberal thought can resonate like a rallying cry.
Musically, the track is a fascinating hybrid. The hard-rock, anti-populist segments draw from a 16th-century Polish sea shanty, “Hej żeglujże, żeglarzu,” lending a rollicking, almost rebellious momentum to the piece. In contrast, the anthem sections, imaginatively envisioned for a Jon Anderson rendition, borrow from the Velvet Underground’s All Tomorrow’s Parties, and create a cinematic, slow-burning orchestral swell. Over this, Lukky Sparxx delivers a rich, sermonic gravitas, landing the words with deliberate clarity, like a manifesto set to music.
The lyrics read like a philosophical sermon, as he sings, “There is no church of John Stewart Mill./No priest defend our reason… No tong exalt Adam Smith.” It’s a measured indictment of a world where power, money, and spectacle replace reason and justice, where “altars” are crowned with greed rather than enlightenment. The repetition of “They profane… reason… freedom… justice… science” hits like a drumbeat of moral accountability, giving the reasoning a building urgency. By the time the anthem portion arrives, the song transforms into a call to action. He sings, “So let’s build a church of John Mill/ Let their greed sip down into all human minds and lead us to enlightenment,” giving the aspirational vision a dose of self-awareness.
Sonically, the song has shimmering melodies drifting over the haunting sound, very much resembling that of a pipe organ, giving the piece a slow, majestic, almost ritualistic feel. It’s cinematic, moving, and thought-provoking. “Liberal Anthem” is a manifesto, a hymn, and a conversation starter all rolled into one.
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Review by: Naomi Joan