Light and Shade’s “This Is Water” Is a Raw and Personal Rock Statement from Memphis

Memphis duo Light and Shade return with their second album, This Is Water, a rock record steeped in memory, loss, and the kind of personal clarity that only comes from living through real things. The group, Jeff Williams and Josh Aguilar, pull together decades of experience, both musically and personally, to deliver a tightly recorded album that doesn’t hide behind studio gloss or overthought complexity.

The album was tracked in under six days at Young Avenue Sound, a studio known locally for its contribution to Memphis’ active music scene. That quick turnaround doesn’t mean the songs sound unfinished. If anything, the immediacy gives the tracks a stronger spine. There’s no sign of studio fatigue or overwriting. You get a band that knows exactly what it wants to say and how to say it.

This Is Water draws from a wide stretch of rock history, with clear nods to Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, and Stone Temple Pilots. There’s also a heavier edge at times, with influence from Alice in Chains and Pantera audible in the riffs and tones. At other points, you can pick out flourishes that suggest a deep love for technical players like Joe Satriani or Steve Vai. But instead of turning the album into a genre buffet, Light and Shade blend these inspirations into a cohesive sound that still feels very much theirs.

Two standout tracks come with direct emotional ties: “Queen Marie” is a tribute to Jeff Williams’ grandmother, while “The Other Robin Williams” addresses his father’s death from cancer at age 40. It’s a track that cuts deep, not through melodrama, but through phrasing, tone, and the emotional intent behind each note.

Still, This Is Water isn’t all grief and reflection. The guitar and brass work carries a sense of spontaneity, and arrangements that feel loose enough to breathe while staying focused. There’s a sense of balance throughout, between looking back and pushing forward, between technical skill and emotional grounding.

For fans of cinematic or emotional narrative-driven films, some of the slower, more atmospheric cuts could easily pair with scenes dealing with memory, inner conflict, or loss. Likewise, some parts feel like they’d slot well into indie or documentary-style games with grounded stories.