Prior to the two-day of the Glas-Goes Pop festival in July 2023 I hadn’t heard anything by The Luxembourg Signal. I was aware of their existence, and their pedigree in the world of indie-pop, thanks to many of their seven members having previously been involved with bands that had been part of the Sarah Records rota and/or had played with Trembling Blue Stars, a band very much brought to my attention by Comrade Colin.
The live set at the Debating Chamber of Glasgow University proved to be a hugely enjoyable one, and led to a visit to the merch stall afterwards where I was able to pick up a vinyl copy of The Long Now, the band’s third album, released in late 2020, a purchase which has turned out to be one of the best I’ve made over the past couple of years.
It’s a superb listen from start to finish. I’d go as far as to call it an indie-pop classic, with ten quality tunes packed into 35 minutes which fly by all too quickly. It’s one of those records that having got to the end of Side 2, it is irresistible not to flip it over and enjoy things all over again.
mp3: The Luxembourg Signal – 2:22
mp3: The Luxembourg Signal – Cut The Bridle
These are among the most instant of the songs, both of which are worthy of filling the floor at any indie disco. But The Luxembourg Signal, certainly judging by this album, are far from one-dimensional. Indeed, album opener I Never Want To Leave is a bit of a curveball as the guitars are quite minimal and the keyboards at the heart of the song are very light, almost ethereal. The guitars, for the most part, dominate the songs thereafter with the exception of Elevator Silence which can best be described as a synth ballad. There’s also tunes that recall the cinematic style which characterised the afore-mentioned Trembling Blue Stars:-
mp3: The Luxembourg Signal – When All That We Hold Decays
That’s the album’s closing song – and as I mentioned inevitably leads to it being flipped over and listened to again. At which point, I find myself changing my mind about which of the ten tracks I’d pick out as being the real standouts. OK…let’s have another that will at some point find its way onto one of the TVV monthly mixes at some point:-
mp3: The Luxembourg Signal – Take It Back
I’m willing to bet that, if there’s any of you out there who are already familiar with the album, you’ll be willing to make the case that the songs I haven’t featured or mentioned above are actually the pick of the bunch.
Very very very highly recommended.
JC
THE NEW VINYL VILLAIN 
I will buy anything with Beth Arzy’s name on it… and that’s a ton of music. Her name pops up in the collection almost as much as Amelia’s. This seems like a good time to plug a new vinyl comp of Aberdeen’s early Sarah and Sunday that just came out on Toothgrinder Press. Perfection. As for the Luxembourg Signal, the first two songs on their debut album, Dying Star and Distant Drive, remain my favorites, but all three albums are keepers.
Well, I saw the Luxembourg Signal twice last year (or was it the year before?) when they visited the UK and what a wonderful bunch of human beings they are! I’m fortunate enough to call Beth Arzy a close personal friend and she brought me in close to the group while they were here.
Their back catalogue is of immense quality and I’d recommend anybody to take a close look at it and to then buy!!
Beth is currently in California (she has lived in the UK for over 20 years now) visiting her buddies, so who knows, just maybe there is some more collaboration going on as we speak?
This selection is definitely indie gold!!
Darren 157
Over the years I’d heard songs by the band and thought “I like that”. This became a pattern, yet I never did buy an album.
When the band played Glas-Goes Pop a very kind friend, thinking I owuld like the band, subsequently purchased all three digital LPs and gifted them to me. Friend, you know who you are.
Individually, the songs I’d heard I’d enjoyed. However, this band knows how to create and album. I doubt I’d be able to highlight a favourite LP as each has its own definitive charm. What I will say is that all three (I’ve said this before) are the perfect accompaniment to being on a train – staring out of a window as the world blurs past. I’d go so far as to suggest they should be on NHS prescription as they elicit joy. I’m with JC and others – buy these. Be amazed. Feel the joy.
Flimflamfan
Saw them at Indietracks back in 2015, were superb. I really love the song Distant Drive, from their first album, has one of the best intros I have heard.
Jim Dubai
My favourite TLS song so far was “Distant Drive”, but I also like “2:22” quite a bit, maybe even more. It reminds me of Alvvays and the Doves. In 2024, Beth Arzy released the song “Captain Palisade” with her other band, Jetstream Pony. Maybe the following makes sense:
Alvvays – Plimsoll Punks
Jetstream Pony – Captain Palisade
TLS – 2:22
The Doves – Pounding