For those new to Lights, here’s the lowdown. She’s Canadian, talented and young, and over in the UK to tour and increase her fanbase; no doubt trying to replicate the success she’s already achieved back home. Previously described as electropop or synthpop, Lights has grown into a much more rounded songwriter with the release of 2014’s ‘Little Machines’.
 

The show begins with a muted, almost sombre intro – not exactly what I was expecting. But hang on, it’s just a bit of a tease, guiding us into ‘Toes’ from 2011’s album, ‘Siberia’. Cue glow sticks, whooping and flashing camera phones galore!

The first 3 or 4 songs have a weird energy. It feels as if Lights doesn’t know quite what to do with herself, reflected in the constant struggle she has in deciding whether to keep her jacket on or off. “Take it off… otherwise you won’t feel the benefit!” Being from Canada, she should really know that.
 

Lights’ first lengthy address to the audience seems a bit self-indulgent, talking about writer’s block and babbling vaguely about the music business. The upside of this strange monologue is that it introduces ‘Running with the Boys’. This in turn triggers a sequence of songs from ‘Little Machines’ and the evening takes a considerable turn for the better.
 

‘Running with the Boys’ itself sees the band come to life, there’s more fluidity and spark, and they really milk every drop of pop goodness from the track’s fantastic chorus. It’s rounded off with a cute a Capella. Nice touch.
 

With the gig now firmly back on the right path, ‘Portal’ is next. This is the first song where Lights truly displays her talent, expertly playing guitar with ghostly reverb and exploring the song’s excellent melody; creating the first properly atmospheric moment of the night. Tonight’s rendition is more of a band effort than the album, and as a result there’s much more light and shade to the song.
 

‘Oil and Water’ continues where Portal left off; the band playing much more sympathetically, focusing in on the intricacies of the mood created – typified by a glorious, wraithlike e-bow guitar line. Lights ends the number on a huge, coruscating vocal note. It’s a flash of pure talent – exactly the kind of thing that makes coming to gigs worthwhile.
 

‘Speeding’ and ‘Same Sea’ don’t quite reach the standard set by ‘Portal’ and ‘Oil and Water’, with the prominence of heavily delayed vocals highlighting shortcomings over technique and tuning. One wonders if this treatment is a bit heavy handed? After all, this is the Haunt, not Wembley.
 

Lights retires from the stage after ‘Same Sea’, coming back to perform ‘Up We Go’ – a proper ear worm of a single (which ended up peaking at no.6 in the Canadian charts). This is clearly a favourite amongst audience and band alike, and is performed with real gusto, but it comes across as quite sloppy, if still fun. Possibly put it down to excitement and passion, or maybe this being the start of the tour?
 

I can’t help but feel that the best is yet to come from Lights. ‘Little Machines’ is a strong album and denotes a considerable improvement from previous material (for me). However, with another great album under her belt in a few years’ time and further understanding of live embellishment of songs, Lights would have all the tools to seriously impress for the entirety of a set. I’m keen to see what the next chapter holds.

Adam-Luke Atkins