Browsing Tag

Indie Shoegaze

Lo-Fi Sludgy Shoegaze and Post Punk, converge in Nikolai Parker’s latest despondently sweet single “June”

https://nikolaiparker.bandcamp.com/track/june

Boston, Massachusetts-based Alternative artist Nikolai Parker dropped their latest single “June” on June 16th, we’re already hooked on the sludgy immersive aural despondency.

The progressive soundscape starts with chorally absorbing guitar notes floating high above the steady rattle of the drumbeats, but as June progresses, the momentum picks up and discord starts to bleed through.

In true Shoegaze style, Nikolai Parker’ vocals bleed slightly into the mix. Yet not so much so that the lyrics are lost in the melancholically-tinged soundscape.

If you could imagine what it would sound like if Nirvana and Slowdive collaborated on a record, you’d be able to get a good idea of what is in store when you hit play on June. Aptly. the track is as dark and stormy as the month of June in 2020. Admittedly, after hearing Nikolai Parker’s release, it felt increasingly harder to feel morose.

You’d be hard-pressed finding a more indulgent infusion Shoegaze, Post Punk, Grunge and Lo-Fi Rock from a contemporary artist.

You can stream and download June for yourselves via Bandcamp.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Brother vs Brother has released their stunning feat of Indie Shoegaze “Con Arena en Mis Ojos”

Up and coming Alt Indie artist Brother vs Brother released their stunning Shoegaze EP Vol 1. containing the standout single “Con Arena en Mis Ojos” on May 14th. The evocatively atmospheric soundscape is sure to be a hit with any fans of Slowdive, the Smashing Pumpkins and My Bloody Valentine.

Even though my unilingual mind was unable to decipher the lyrics, you’d need to be tone-deaf not to register the resolving sweetness in Con Arena en Mis Ojos. The track may be melancholically-tinged, but ultimately the tonally effervescent track is as uplifting as you’re likely to hear from any breaking Indie artist. Get them on your radar.

You can check out Brother vs Brother’s single Con Arena en Mis Ojos for yourselves by heading over to YouTube. Or, you can listen to the full EP on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Rose Haze – Edge of Something: A Modern Artistic Take on 90s Indie Shoegaze

Fans of My Bloody Valentine and Slowdive definitely won’t want to miss out on the latest release from Indie artist Rose Haze. “Edge of Something” evokes 90s nostalgia whilst simultaneously giving you that all too rare sense of aural euphoria which can only come from hitting play on a brand-new artist offering pioneering vision, and deft artistic execution through their sound.

There may be more nuances of Pop than you would find in a 90s Shoegaze hit with the clear vocal diction which sits neatly above the instrumentals. Yet, you’ll be able to expect the same sludgy mesmerism from the guitars which still resonate as cuttingly angular despite the layers of Reverb.

Edge of Something is so much more than your ordinary revival track, and Rose Haze’s arrestive approach to production is definitely anything other than assimilative. The up and coming artist achieved a moody yet ethereal track with Edge of Something, and it’s not all too often that we can say that.

You can check out the latest single from Rose Haze for yourselves by heading over to Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Lounge Act Jam – Let Me Be The One You Want Me to Be: Despondency Laced-Shoegaze

Any fans of Slowdive are definitely going to want to check out the standout single “Let Me Be The One You Want Me to Be” from up and coming Portland, US-based artist Lounge Act Jam.

Their distinctive brand of ‘Underdog Pop’ offers all of the dreamy, gritty and despondency-laced effect-glazed guitar tones and the bleeding vocals which you’d expect to hear from Shoegaze pioneers.

Yet, with a stunning contribution of Psychedelic Rock on the outro and slight nuances of Jangle Pop, they’ve more than made their abstract mark on the genre.

You can check out Let Me Be The One You Want Me to Be for yourselves by heading over to SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Charcoal Burners – Days Behind: Hypnotically Melodic Indie Shoegaze

The Best Day You Could Imagine by Charcoal Burners

As soon as you hit play on the latest single “Days Behind” by Charcoal Burners you will be grounded by the same atmospheric punch as when you listen to the Cure, Joy Division, Echo and the Bunnymen and Slowdive. The mesmeric Post Punk Shoegaze single may carry plenty of reminiscence to pioneering artists, but that’s not to say there isn’t plenty of distinction found within the revival of Alt 90s. The extended instrumental outro allows you to get lost in the sticky-sweet reverb-laden melodies which offer a unique sense of rhythmic catharsis which you’d be hard pressed to find in any other artists work. The instrumentally led single allows plenty of focus to remain on the guitar progressions with the vocal and lyrics effortlessly fade in and out to add layers of harmony to the already transcendental single.

You can check out Charcoal Burners’ latest single Days Behind from their album “the Best Day You Could Imagine” for yourselves by heading over to Bandcamp now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast