Description
James Bay – Electric Light – Red Vinyl Record
James Bay’s Electric Light, released on May 18, 2018, marks a bold and transformative moment in the British singer-songwriter’s career. Following the massive success of his 2015 debut album Chaos and the Calm, which earned him Grammy nominations and chart-topping singles like “Let It Go” and “Hold Back the River,” Bay pivoted sharply away from his rootsy, guitar-driven folk-rock sound. With Electric Light, he embraced modern pop, R&B, electronica, and even hip-hop influences, delivering a more expansive and experimental sonic palette.
Bay described the album as “a real sonic and artistic evolution”, likening the contrast between Chaos and the Calm and Electric Light to the difference between a candle and a 100-watt bulb. It’s a striking metaphor that fits: Electric Light is brighter, bigger, more synthetic, and far more diverse in sound and style.
Key Tracks & Highlights
1. “Wild Love”
The lead single and the most daring sonic shift. With atmospheric synths and whispered vocals, it’s reminiscent of James Blake or Frank Ocean, signaling Bay’s new creative direction. It’s moody, sensual, and totally different from the folk-rock crooner people knew.
2. “Pink Lemonade”
A punchy, glam-rock-infused pop anthem that mixes The Strokes-esque guitar licks with infectious energy. It became a fan favorite thanks to its retro-yet-modern feel and tongue-in-cheek lyrics.
3. “Us”
The most emotionally grounded and traditional Bay-sounding song on the album. A gospel-influenced ballad, it brings back acoustic textures and heartfelt lyrics — a nod to his earlier work and a fan favorite for its intimacy and universal message.
4. “Slide”
A stripped-down closer that returns to his singer-songwriter core. Just Bay and a guitar, it’s a beautiful bookend to the album and a reminder that beneath the experimentation, his songwriting chops remain sharp and emotionally resonant.
Lyrically, Electric Light explores themes of desire, self-discovery, vulnerability, and identity. There’s a notable increase in intimacy and sensuality, with Bay writing more from a place of personal growth and romantic experience.
Musically, the album leans heavily into synth textures, R&B grooves, falsetto vocals, and experimental production — particularly evident in interludes and the album’s sequencing, which flows more like a conceptual mixtape than a traditional LP.
Critics were divided but generally appreciative of Bay’s ambition. Some praised the bold reinvention, while others missed the more grounded, rootsy sound of his debut. Chart-wise, the album debuted at #2 in the UK and had solid showings internationally, though it didn’t produce hits as big as his debut.
Electric Light is an example of an artist breaking free of expectations. James Bay risked alienating a portion of his fanbase to follow a creative urge — and while it may not have received universal acclaim, it positioned him as a versatile, evolving artist.
This album sits in the lineage of other sophomore reinventions — think Bon Iver’s 22, A Million or Harry Styles’ Fine Line — where a mainstream figure pivots to something more personal and exploratory.
Brand new, never played and still in the factory plastic sealed
Track Listing
Intro
Wasted On Each Other
Pink Lemonade
Wild Love
Us
In My Head
Interlude
Just For Tonight
Wanderlust
I Found You
Sugar Drunk High
Stand Up
Fade Out
Slide
