The long-awaited debut album from London based gazers Whitelands is finally here. After a series of incredible single releases before and after signing to the legendary Sonic Cathedral label they bring us Night-bound Eyes are Blind to the Day. The band are Etienne (guitar and vocals), Jagun (drums and backing vocals), then Vanessa (bass) and Michael (guitar). Along with The Veldt and AR Kane they find themselves a black shoegaze band in what is a predominantly white genre. “There’s an underlying narrative that it’s OK for white men to be romantic, sensitive, emotional and make dreamy music and, by contrast, young Black men should be making angry music,” says Vanessa. “We’ve all grown up with these stereotypes and therefore I think people are mystified when they see Whitelands.”
It’s dreamy music they make alright and the singles released up until now have all been played exhaustedly in the Static Sounds Clubhouse. The album title intrigued me as it stands out from any title they’ve employed up until this point. Etienne was more than happy to explain the album title is taken from The Prophet, the philosophical 1923 book by Kahlil Gibran.
“The full quote is ‘the owl whose night-bound eyes are blind unto the day cannot unveil the mystery of light’, I think it encapsulates the feeling of the album. A common theme running through the songs is lots of ‘I’, ‘you’, sense and emotion. Very physical and intimate settings. Lots of descriptors of light, celestial bodies, water, Biblical stuff, abstract stuff. I don’t really know why I write things the way I do, but I do tend to write emotions as anything other than what they actually are.”
“I consume a lot of media. Video-games, music, news, paintings, manga, animations and film are my go-to, especially anime. There is this drive to want to understand and feel the whole weight of an expression. So, the songs are based on other songs, pictures, aesthetics, ‘vibes’, an emotion someone else felt. Fundamentally, you are what you eat.”
Well, I’m ready to tuck in to whatever Whitelands are serving up. Let’s drop the needle and see what’s what.
The album opens on the driving guitars of ‘Setting Sun’. The single from earlier this year draws inspiration from the murder of George Floyd and the subsequent reactions from the global community. Etienne’s poignant vocals navigate systemic discrimination, while the dreamy guitar backing acts as the canvas for the message. I loved this on release and it’s only got better with repeated listens.
Next up “The Prophet & I” shuffles in and immediately you’re hooked by the melody. This is dream pop with a capital POP. Celestial guitars guide this song along with real purpose. It’s no wonder this was released as a single last year. There’s a palpable joy in the delivery of the vocal which makes this such an impactful track.
We float into ‘Cheer’ on a velvety cloud of reverb-soaked guitars. The pace dropping ever so slightly this is a more meditative track that just shimmers out the speakers. The mellowness of the verses contrasting with soaring vocal in the chorus. It’s a tricky balancing act that the band make look effortless.
Dottie from labelmates deary guests on ‘Tell Me About It’. Her vulnerable and airy vocals are the perfect pairing for Etienne’s. They lend this song a romantic angle that plays right into the lyrical content. “How can you tell with loving? How do you hear the answers? How do feet match the guidelines? I never learnt the dance.” The complexities of love laid bare in one verse.
From the dewy-eyed allure, we plunge back down to earth with ‘How it Feels’. This feels more like the flip side of love, the sting of betrayal. I love how the guitars interact with each other in the latter half of the track. Climbing over each other in a race to the song’s conclusion.
Whilst the parallels to Slowdive’s musical palate are undeniable ‘Chosen Light’ takes a detour through the sound of The Cure at their dreamiest. The bass pulsing through this one is most Gallup like in its insistent intensity. As always, its only a colour in the overall picture of the song. Whitelands are no tribute act. Rather a sum of their parts.
“Born in Understanding” is a celestial dance—a waltz with the universe. It’s the soundtrack to stargazing, the ache of longing, and the fragile beauty of vulnerability. The twilight mood just washes over you instantly transporting you to the chilled air of the gloaming. This is just beautiful songwriting, from the transportive lyrics (“The moon rose, asunder from aether The womb unfolds the maw, unearthed, in sight”) to the call and response of the guitars. It’s my album stand out track.
The album comes to a close with the strident opening chords of ‘Now Here’s The Weather’. A track that explores the black experience shining a light on the hypocrisy of religion and well meaning do gooders. “And what of loving? And what of peace? my bible commands, it’s wrapped in green. Let’s love thy neighbour, lets burn their house. I don’t understand what comes from their mouths” It’s really potent stuff and an incredibly impactful way to close out the LP.
Whitelands have crafted a sonic experience that ticks every box on a shoegazers shopping list. Dig deeper though and you have lyrics of depth and real meaning. Delivered with a literary flair there’s so much more to discover in the headphones. The production is top notch with a consistency and cohesion across all the tracks. As a statement of intent Night-bound Eyes are Blind to the Day more than does its job. Its no wonder Slowdive asked the band to support them on recent dates.
Night-bound Eyes are Blind to the Day is out now on Sonic Cathedral. The first press of vinyl is long gone but a second press on blue day vinyl as well as CD and cassette is available now from your favourite record shop.
You can follow Whitelands on social media here…
Photo Credits
Edward Sogunro
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