Bright Light Bright Light
Make Me Believe in Hope
(The Blue Team / Aztec)
***
A robust fellow with finely cropped facial hair, Rod Thomas does not immediately bring to mind Kylie Minogue or Robyn, the beard-free pop divas. And yet those are two of the frequent comparisons emboldening this hotly tipped Welshman as he swaps the studio for the stage. Named after a quote from the movie Gremlins, his Bright Light Bright Light venture makes radio-friendly, hands-in-the-air dance pop, although Thomas is keen to stress his strengths as a songwriter, too. The intros need a little work, as the eventual floor-fillers often get off to a false start, and it's notable that the first truly outstanding track, Love Part II, features a euphoric Europop hook that kicks in immediately. Thomas does mirror Robyn and Minogue by collaborating with some outstanding producers here, most interestingly the experimental beatsmith Boom Bip, and there are impressively intricate techno flourishes on Feel It and the closing ballad, Grace. Meanwhile the Scissor Sisters' guitarist Del Marquis adds some beef to the lovely I Cry at Films. No doubt he even wept during Gremlins.