Browsing Tag

Slowdive

Azure Wolf opened up about trauma-induced disassociation in their latest haunting indie-rock single, ‘Black Fur’.

Posted on 10 April 2021

‘Black Fur’ is the latest single released by the Winchester, VA-based alt-indie-rock four-piece Azure Wolf. The ethereal emboldening earworm carries nuances of the alt 90s, especially in the cool and cutting guitar tones which carry reminiscence to Neil Halstead’s (Slowdive). You’ll also pick up on grunge textures in the dark layers of the driving and all-consuming release that tackles a subject rarely spoken of, let alone sung about.

Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. That’s exactly what you’ll be reminded of as you listen to forming member, songwriter, rhythm guitarist and lead singer Victoria Backle use her powerful command of harmony to draw you into the track that was inspired by personal experience.

Her rich and warming vocal timbre is the perfect contrast to the chilling instrumental tones. If Paul Banks threw away the apathy and emanated strength in spite of suffering, Interpol would carry the same feisty atmospheric air found in Black Fur.

Black Fur is the fourth release from Azure Wolf since they made their debut in 2020 with the single, Dancing Bears. Their debut LP will arrive in the fall; before that, you can expect new singles to land regularly from this luminary artist.

Black Fur is now available to stream via Spotify. Follow Azure Wolf on Facebook and Instagram.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Moon Museum show us all the ‘Pleasures Of Peace’

Posted on 6 March 2021

In a time where gender seems to have become more politicised and polemic than ever before, ‘Pleasures Of Peace’, the first single from San Franciscan shoegaze quartet Moon Museum, is that sought-after magical spread of masculine and feminine, yin and yang perfectly balanced between Olivia Barchard’s epic, soaring vocals and Ryan Joseph’s wash of swooping guitars. Swathes of dreamy psychrock, awash in Gretschy 12-string and echo sit atop reverb-soaked pushing drums and driving melodic bass. There’s obvious Slowdive influences, but Lush and Belly too, Swallow, the softer parts of My Bloody Valentine, and, of course, the all-straddling Cocteau Twins Liz Fraser, and gentler elements of Curve’s Toni Halliday in the vocal mix too, alongside the Doves and Chameleons guitars.

It’s a delicious, heady, atmospheric mix of dreamrock, arcing back to the 4AD shoegaze heyday of the late ‘80s and 1990s; hypnotic and entrancing, energetic and yet calming, all at once.

Moon Museum have two further singles slated for release in 2021; on the basis of ‘Pleasures Of Peace’, we can’t wait to hear them, too.

Hear ‘Pleasures Of Peace’ on Soundcloud; check out Moon Museum on Facebook and Instagram.

Review by Alex Holmes

Neal Gray invites you to drift into ‘A Beautiful Slumber’ with their ambient shoegaze single

Posted on 6 January 2021

Whatever your views on guitar music are, cast them aside before you hit play on the latest cinematically lush instrumental release ‘A Beautiful Slumber’ from US singer-songwriter Neal Gray.

With the same spacious soul-twistingly sweet tones as found in Slowdive’s most sedately compelling singles, the soundscape is absorbing from the first hit. The influence of Neil Halstead’s reticent yet ardently evocative quiescent guitar-style is more than palpable, but A Beautiful Slumber is so much more than just a feat of assimilation.

Neal Gray held back on the distortion and abrasive sonic effects to create a transcendent soundscape which is beguiling and cathartic in equal measure.

In a time where tranquillity is hard to come by, I sincerely recommend Neal Gray’s tracks as a staple for your playlists.

You can drift into A Beautiful Slumber yourselves by heading over to SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Superflush deliver a bitter-sweet romantic kick with their Alt Indie debut single ‘Answer’

Posted on 19 December 2020

Californian Alt-Indie trio Superflush have made their 2020 debut with the stunningly hazy Shoegaze single ‘Answer’, expect plenty more than just another My Bloody Valentine or Slowdive derivative as Superflush weave their way right across the tonal palette.

With a progressive feel to the ode to the Alt 90s sound, the dreamy melodies synergise with the lucid vocals which come with a bitter-sweet romantic kick. Everyone from fans of Radiohead to fans of Porcupine Tree will want to jump on this authentically crafted, served straight from the soul feat of Alt-Indie. As far as debuts go, they don’t come much more promising than this.

You can check out Answer for yourselves by heading over to Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Sky Changes – New Shoes: An Instantly Engorging Melting Pot of Art Rock, Dream Pop and Shoegaze

Posted on 13 July 2020

From the first angular notes in the latest track “New Shoes” from Chicago Alt-Rock outfit Sky Changes, we were hooked. Their unique amalgamation of Art Rock, Dream Pop and Indie Shoegaze will leave fans of Radiohead and Slowdive alike enamoured.

Not only did the dreamy soundscape allow Sky Changes to assert their distinction and ingenuity on the airwaves. New Shoes is also an instantly engorging melodic masterpiece where every evolution will leave you with an even more potent dose of awe.

With every progression, the tight yet chorally accordant instrumentals seem to gain intricacy and amass alchemy while the hazily-blissful vocals remain a beguilingly soft constant. The muted vocals magnetically draw you deeper into the track to extract the meaning behind the New Shoes metaphor.

It isn’t every day we hear such a fresh revival of Alt 90s sounds. We’d recommend getting Sky Changes on your radar sooner than later.

You can check out Sky Changes’ latest single for yourselves by heading over to SoundCloud or Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

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

Posted on 25 June 2020
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

Manian Van Hacker – Real Love: Pounding Post Punk

Posted on 31 December 2017

Post Punk isn’t Post Punk unless the sound completely shatters your soul, the wild screeching of the guitar that features in this track submerges you into the murky resonant depths of this track.

Creating the perfect Post Punk track is no easy venture to set out upon, yet Harrisburg, US based musician Manian Van Hacker has created a tentatively tasteful mixed that captivates you from the second the muted guitars kick in which lead you into the sweetest symphony that has been put out in 2017.

Real Love is the ultimate anti-love song that is a necessity to any playlist, with vocals that match the quiescent magnetism of Alice in Chains singer Layne Stanley it’s hard not to be subdued into his contemptuous melody.

For any fans of My Bloody Valentine, Slowdive, Editors and Interpol, you’re going to want to check out the immersive debut track from Manian Van Hacker.

The new EP ‘Pilot Error’ is due for release on January 19th, 2018, until then, check out the sensational new single from Manian Van Hacker via SoundCloud:

https://soundcloud.com/manianvhacker/real-love-single?in=manianvhacker/sets/pilot-error-ep-focus-listening/s-1bXmw

To keep up to date with his new releases follow the enviably talented musician via Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/mvhmusic/

Midwestern Dirt single “Lights & Shapes” has the grit of garage rock

Posted on 24 August 2017
Amendments by Midwestern Dirt

Midwestern Dirt is a driven indie rock band whose music falls under a broad spectrum of genres. Their single “Lights & Shapes” has the grit of garage rock and the melodies of post-punk, echoing the work of artists such as The Pixies, Slowdive or Sonic Youth.

The lead vocals are romantic and hazy, almost reminding me of a young Thurston Moore, singing over an upbeat, yet somewhat romantic melody.

What I really like about this single is the fact that there is a huge dynamic contrast between the verses and the choruses: The song takes a step back, allowing the gritty guitars to clean up and the drums to take it a little easier, going for a full and rich sound. On the other hand, the song truly breaks up, bringing a lot of energy to this mix.

The track, taken from the band’s full-length release “Amendments”, is a great example of this group’s sonic formula.