Score: 3/5 stars 
With all the added stress life has, sometimes you have to pull out the scented candles and looking up local yoga classes. To destress this week, look no further than Big Noble’s debut album “First Light.”
Big Noble is the side project of Interpol guitarist Daniel Kessler and sound designer Joseph Fraioli. The two have come together to create a sound experience drastically different from their other project.
A far cry from the usual rock sounds of Interpol, this digital-only release is all instrumental. The lack of vocals lets the purity of the sound mixes come through. “First Light” has 10 tracks which are, admittedly, not easy to differentiate. Each has it’s own qualities but overall they are all calming, melodic tracks.
Big Noble creates sounds that demonstrate the synergy between popular music and sound mixing. The tracks are a combination of guitar, field recordings taken out of the studio and sound manipulations created by synthesizers and other effects.
The band also made a name for itself in the art world this last fall with it’s “Sounds of NYC” sound installation at Sonos Studios in New York. The installation combined a moving display of Sonos sound products and music created by Big Noble. The duo called it an interactive conceptual map of NYC. The track “Ocean Picture” was also used for fashion label Rag and Bone’s Fall 2014 ad campaign.
While the sounds are good, some of the tracks can run a bit slow and sound slightly repetitive. It’s an incredibly creative project that could use a little polish to take it one step further.
“First Light” is reminiscent of other side projects such as Volcano Choir, a collaboration between Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon and others. It appeals to fans of Purity Ring, Bon Iver and other indie bands of the sort.
The debut single, “Peg,” was released earlier this year along with an official video. When one watches the video, it’s clear to see why this music would have done well at a sound installation. It’s music elevated with the accompaniment of beautiful visuals of snow falling and the sun rising. While the tracks are strong on their own, they would be significantly better if each one was attached to a visual experience as well.
Overall, “First Light” isn’t a bad album. It will come in handy when searching for music to relax to or play in the background while studying. At the very least, it’s a good add to any “nighttime tracks” playlist.