City Lights (The Waeve album)

City Lights
A photo of the duo stood side by side, bathed in red light and with two red spotlights behind them.
Studio album by
the Waeve
Released20 September 2024
Length51:22
LabelTransgressive
ProducerJames Ford
The Waeve chronology
The Waeve
(2023) 		City Lights
(2024)
Singles from City Lights
  1. "City Lights"
    Released: 2 May 2024
  2. "You Saw"
    Released: 25 June 2024
  3. "Broken Boys"
    Released: 28 August 2024

City Lights is the second studio album by British duo the Waeve, consisting of Graham Coxon and Rose Elinor Dougall, released on 20 September 2024 by Transgressive Records. It was preceded by three singles.

Release

The album's first single, its title track, was released on 2 May.[1] The song, cowritten by the duo and produced by James Ford, includes vocals from both members as well as keyboards, guitar, bass guitar, drums, and Graham Coxon on saxophone.[2][3] With the single, the duo released a statement saying "The city lights bestow a unique magic on everyone – the beautiful and the grotesque, the angels and the devils – shining and seductive, one and all... Who wants to love you and who wants to destroy you?"[2][3]

The album was announced on 25 June, with its release date set for 20 September by Transgressive Records.[4][5] With the announcement came the second single, "You Saw", which the duo called "a song about acknowledging how seemingly tiny decisions can have a seismic impact on the course of one's life, how sometimes it feels like the way things turn out are predestined. It's about reconciling a past version with the new version of one's self and being grateful for how things work out. It's built around a rhythmic string line to reflect the sense of propulsive forward motion."[4][5]

The third single, "Broken Boys", was released on 28 August with a live performance video.[6]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Graham Coxon and Rose Elinor Dougall.

City Lights track listing
No.TitleLength
1."City Lights"4:20
2."You Saw"5:25
3."Moth to the Flame"4:43
4."I Belong To..."4:23
5."Simple Days"4:10
6."Broken Boys"3:13
7."Song for Eliza May"5:38
8."Druantia"7:45
9."Girl of the Endless Night"4:55
10."Sunrise"6:50
Total length:51:22

Personnel

The Waeve

Additional musicians

  • James Ford – piano (5), synthesiser (10)
  • Mike Smith – saxophone (2, 8)
  • Chris Storr and Nichol Thomson – saxophone (8)
  • Emma Smith, Jennymay Logan, Laura Moody, and Richard Jones – string section (2, 4, 7–10)
  • Sam Becker – string section (4, 9)

Technical

Charts

Chart performance for City Lights
Chart (2024) Peak
position
Scottish Albums (OCC)[7] 26
UK Albums (OCC)[8] 84
UK Independent Albums (OCC)[9] 6

References

  1. ^ Carter, Daisy (2 May 2024). "The Waeve Release New Single "City Lights"". DIY. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
  2. ^ a b Dunworth, Liberty (2 May 2024). "Graham Coxon and Rose Elinor Dougall's the Waeve share "shining and seductive" new single "City Lights"". NME. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
  3. ^ a b Pearis, Bill (2 May 2024). "The Waeve (Graham Coxon & Rose Elinor Dougall) share new single "City Lights"". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
  4. ^ a b Carter, Daisy (25 June 2024). "The Waeve Announce Details of Sophomore Album City Lights". DIY. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
  5. ^ a b Murray, Robin (25 June 2024). "The Waeve Announce New Album City Lights". Clash. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
  6. ^ Redfern, Mark (28 August 2024). "The Waeve Share New Song "Broken Boys" (Plus a Live Performance Video for the Song)". Under the Radar. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
  7. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
  8. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
  9. ^ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 28 September 2024.