Bright Like Stars – Reflections

Distance means nothing in the modern world. Technology now has the power to bring us closer than ever before, to be more creative than ever before. Two people who are testament to this are Neil Burkdoll (Whimsical, LoveBlind, Dirty Dead) and Craig Douglas (Neonach, Omega Vague). With Burkdoll moving to Germany and Douglas still Stateside they had to rely on trading files online to record this their debut album under the moniker Bright Like Stars. The two have actually never met in person, never mind been in the same room to record which for me makes the results of their efforts even more extraordinary.

Reflections was recorded with a very deliberate aim in mind. Burkdoll explains.

“We created something very much Shoegaze inspired, but combining the bleakness of Godflesh/Jesu, the energy of Torche, the noise of My Bloody Valentine, and the speed of Face to Face into a blender that could only be created by musicians that have been doing this for over 30 years.“

“We wanted the listener to have a similar experience to when we first heard Check Your Head by The Beastie Boys in 1992 and you didn’t know what was coming next from song to song, but in a homage to the early Alt Rock bands of the early 90’s.” 

This sounds like its going to be right up my street. Let’s dive in and see what we have in store.

It’s a heavy doomy riff that opens the album. ‘Ever Fading’ is a hook laden monster that takes me right back. The combination of the melodic vocals with the simple but effective guitar gets this listening experience off to a strong start. I particularly like the switch up in that last minute or so. It mixes things up just enough yet maintains that guitar motif.

‘Star Dust’ up next has these glistening phased guitars that shine throughout, not least when everything stops and they are left glinting in the void for moment. Douglas choosing a harmonised vocal to compliment those guitars and it pays off in buckets. Two tracks in and two very different styles. I can see already what these guys were aiming at.

As if hearing me type that in storms opening single ‘Reeling’. An instant shoegaze classic. The wall of sound here is of epic proportions. Guitar’s wail and soar whilst the bass and drums absolutely thunder. Vocals, this time that hushed and calm delivery those early bands favoured in the scene that celebrates itself. It’s THAT guitar riff though that will bring you back again and again to this one.

There’s a lighter touch on show on ‘The Healing’. This is bringing to mind early Veruca Salt vibes. That crunchy guitar is bold and sweeping, making definite, assured strokes. Douglas lending a softer aesthetic to his delivery which makes that insane guitar solo all the more impactful when it hits. This is big stage stuff and it hits hard.

Next up is, for me, the album stand-out track. ‘The Less You Know’ is a seriously hooky proposition. Everything is an ear worm. The verse melody, the chorus, the guitar motifs. Even the punchy drums. It’s like some lost Hüsker Dü track been transported through time and amplified through Marshall stacks! This song alone is going to win the band a lot of fans.

Keeping that melodic thread going ‘Entangled’ simplifies things down to a single guitar motoring along. This allows Douglas to really step into the spotlight and have fun with some call and response vocals. His harmony vocal is allowed so much more space here and he makes the most of it and delivers a stunning performance.

‘Home’ steps back into that shoegaze world with a really atmospheric guitar pulsing along. Just when you think you know what’s happening they hit you with the most otherworldly chorus. It totally caught me by surprise the first time through and had me punching the air. It’s so rare that songs do that these days so I doubly appreciate it when it does happen.

You’d think that you’re hearing a church organ as Burkdoll plays some reverse guitar at the start of ‘Unaligned’. Don’t be fooled though, the chilled intro suddenly erupts into breakneck drums and guitars like a speed metal song but whatever the shoegaze equivalent is (is there an equivalent?). Vocals are very definitely gaze influenced and the contrast makes for a heady concoction. Have Bright Like Stars created a new genre here? Answers on a postcard.

It’s ‘The End’ next. Not of the album though. We’re leaning more into metal ballad territory for the instrumentation. Coupled with that serene vocal delivery though, we have something very unique. I’m also detecting some goth influence in here too. The icy guitar lines in the quieter passages bring to mind The Cure or The Banshees. It’s how seamlessly blended it all is that makes this yet another joy to the ear.

All too soon the album comes to a close with ‘On the Other Side’. The fuzzy and dark verses erupt into this triumphant ascending chorus melody that lifts your soul and spirits skyward. This is a song that knows its job. Everything works so well together to leave you, as the listener, utterly euphoric and wanting to listen again.

Well, if the band were wanting to keep us guessing from track to track, I’d say mission accomplished, and how. Reflections is a real journey of an album that takes you through a range of emotions, but always upbeat and positive ones. I think it’s worthwhile noting that all instruments on here are played by Burkdoll himself. That alone would be impressive enough but then Douglas brings such range and commitment to his performances and you have a combination that cannot fail to blow your mind. As the nights are drawing in and the days get shorter, I’m glad that the music I listen to is Bright Like Stars.

Reflections will be available to download FOR FREE, yes you read that right, FOR FREE from November 29 on the Bright Like Stars Bandcamp page.

You can follow Bright Like Stars on social media here…

EEP – You Don’t Have To Be Prepared

EEP are a band about to release their third album to the world. Much like the world in which we are currently living the band have been through a period of significant change since the release of both their debut album Death Of A Very Good Machine in 2020 its follow up, 2021’s Winter Skin. Once a five piece the band now find themselves a tight trio of Rosie Varela (vocals, guitar, percussion), Ross Ingram (vocals, guitar, drums) and Sebastian Estrada, (vocals, bass, drums). Couple that with the band hitting a brick wall when trying to come up with an idea for a new album and you can see it was a trying time.

Then life tapped them on the shoulder. The band happened across an old reel to reel Dictaphone, sequestered away for years inside an old Hammond organ in their El Paso based studio space. On the tape, a message.

It’s the late 70s, or perhaps the early 80s, and a middle-aged woman in Clay Center, Kansas–possibly named Anne–is leaving an audio message for her sweetheart in El Paso, Texas. She’s exiting her old life and entering a new one, jumping across the country and into her next chapter. A second chance at love, and an optimism that’s palpable through the recording; a recording that found its way into the hands of this creative three piece. With their time at this studio coming to an end and the band changes it felt like kismet. Estrada had this to say on this twist of fate and adjusting to their new set up.

“This physical artifact that had been part of our studio for so long allowed us to not just find their conclusion but also a conclusion for our narrative in that space; the space where we came together and became a band. We’re always trying to find new sounds, and we were able to do that by digging into our individual abilities.” 

Let’s dive in and explore this new EEP album and see how this tighter outfit has affected their overall sound.

The album opens with ‘Ghost’ a dreamy mood piece that immediately settles any nerves. EEP are back and whilst there are fewer members in the band there’s no less creativity on show. Ingram and Varela’s vocals weave through this song providing that common thread to usher in this new era of the band. The closing section is particularly effective. The repetition of “Is that your ghost. Your whisper. Or is it just noise?” bringing the song to an end. It’s a sure footed and steady opener.

‘My Lack of Symmetry’ next is a hypnotic mantra to unconditional love. The use of percussion and percussive electronica makes this a real treat for the ears. You can really hear the experimentation in every second. The band exploring their limits and finding they have none.

It’s on ’14 Days’ we start to hear exactly how far EEP’s collective creativity has taken them. The array of complex textures and rhythmic flourishes I would only expect to hear coming from someone like Thom Yorke. The lyrical narrative so overt yet the melody always evolving and elusive. Man, this is took my breath away.

We now reach the albums heart. A two-part story where we delve into the tape and the story within. On ‘Here’s What I Want you To Forget’ we find our protagonist torturing themselves over what to record and overthinking the words they need to say to the one they love. It’s instantly relatable and musically captures the mood of that moment beautifully.

Next on ‘Here’s What I Want You To Remember’ the emotional one two floors us as we hear the voice on the tape. She is baring her soul and the careful instrumentation brought in to accompany her tender words perfectly frames her heartfelt soliloquy. If you still have a dry eye as she finishes by saying “I do love you very very much. And I feel very very lucky that you love me” I will be amazed.

It’s into a moody tone poem next. ‘On Tenterhooks’ is a slowcore, jazzy almost smoky instrumental. For me it captures our protagonist on the road. All the thoughts going through her head as she heads for El Paso to meet her love. The track evolves slowly adding various textures but never overloading that subtle melody.

‘Clay Center’ is a display of where EEP are at vocally. This track has some of the most complex overlapping vocal lines / harmonies I’ve heard in a long time. The delivery of each line by each member of the band is carefully calibrated and delivered in such a way that it sounds like they become one voice. The electronic percussion is the perfect foil to their rich warm vocals bringing to mind The Postal Service in places. That devastating final minute just floored me with its sweeping crescendo and its cinematic vista. What more can I say. Breathtaking.

We are treated to that shoegaze sound that EEP do so well next with ‘Always’. As if to further cement the bands evolution the verses of this song take a step down to reflect the more stripped back nature of this line up before launching into that chorus again. EEP have always been able to deliver that chorus experience you need in a song and ‘Always’ exemplifies that ability.

The album comes to a close all too soon with the title track. The cautious optimism that exists like a golden thread throughout all these songs suddenly comes into sharp focus. Varela’s soaring vocal is utterly beguiling and is full of the hope and love that singing these songs must generate in you. The instrumentation is delicate and considered with lots of space. The last word going to Anne signing off both her love letter and our listening experience.

EEP have really outdone themselves on You Don’t Have To Be Prepared. When life presented the group with multiple challenges they found a way. Not only that they have gifted us with our own reminder that we are here for such a short time, we need to grasp the life we have been given and live it with a heart full of love and embrace the possibilities in front of us. Life has a way of taking us by the hand, just when we need it most, and pointing us in the right direction. We just need to be open to it and remember that you don’t have to be prepared.

You Don’t Have To Be Prepared Is out now via Hogar Records and is available on vinyl, CD and digitally from the EEP Bandcamp Page.

You can follow EEP on social media here….

The Hologram People – Sacred Ritual to Unlock the Mountain Portal

Over the last week or so I’ve been reacquainting myself with the debut album from Dreamlord and Kosmische aka The Hologram People. Sacred Ritual to Unlock the Mountain Portal was originally released back in 2021 on Woodford Halse and subsequently its first highly prized vinyl release on Drone Rock Records the following year. I was at once struck by this albums immediacy and ability to weave pictures in my mind of far-off lands and vistas new.

Multi-instrumentalists Dom Keen and Jonathan Parkes, with help from a handful of guests, focus their considerable talents on these eight tracks. Yes, at just over 30 minutes this is a shorter excursion than any of their subsequent outings but my god, this is a trip. This is, more often or not, my choice for late night listening. Headphones on and off we go. Now with its remixed and remastered edition about to be launched on the world for 2024 I just had to head off to the mountain, one more time.

The album kicks off with the acoustic psych folk of the title track. It’s a pacy opener and immediately I’m on the foothills of the mountain, setting out on my journey. It’s a funky, psychedelic wig out that has a real sense of progression as the track builds and evolves. The lysergic energy is here right from the off and it sets the tone for the rest of our journey.

Soon we walk into a clearing where magick is being practised. ‘Pray To The Maypole Witch’ builds on that pastoral psych sound and darkens the edges. This is moodier piece tinged with menace and foreboding. It’s got big Wicker Man feels and that’s high praise from me.

‘Lord Shiva’s Mothership’ is quite a ride. It blends cosmic psychedelia with a kind of spiritual, mystical aura. I think it feels like a journey through different realms, guided by otherworldly rhythms and melodies. The fusion of seventies sounds with its eastern energy is the fusion that powers this expansive track. At just over eleven minutes it’s the longest cut on the record and at no point does it outstay its welcome. This is the blueprint for many of Dreamlord and Kosmische’s finest moments to come.

We come back down from the cosmos with the more grounded, relatively speaking, ‘A Seventies Void’. Its retro, spacey feel perfectly captures a kind of nostalgic, yet futuristic vibe: blending those classic 70s psychedelic elements with modern production. The swirling synths and groovy bass lines create a dreamy, almost hypnotic atmosphere. It’s like a trip back in time with a cosmic twist. These guys are good.

It’s the bass taking the lead on ‘Étoile Voyageuse’. That groove, locked in tight with the drums from the outset will get your head bobbing along in no time. This ode to a travelling star dips into the smoky, dimly lit ambiance of AIR. The French spoken word element only adding to that. It’s yet another mood and by this point I’m revelling in this embarrassment of riches.

 We return to that cosmic (Kosmische) pastoral sound again on ‘Sun Breaks on Saturn’s Return’. This time alongside the psychedelic swooshes and swirls we have sweeping strings lifting us off the ground and sending us soaring through the clouds. All I can equate it to is ‘Flying’ by those cheeky Scousers. The deftly plucked acoustic guitar holding it all together as we reach the very edges of our consciousness. Sheer bliss.

The tone darkens once again as we enter the hazy heat of ‘Planet Sahara’. The looping repetition of the riff on piano and bass is wonderfully hypnotic. The track builds and emerges in a most satisfying way. Each element being allowed its own moment in the spotlight. The attention to detail in the sounds in my headphones is nothing short of spectacular. Gentleman, you are spoiling us.

All too soon our cosmic rambling must come to an end but what a way to finish. ‘Deep Into The Cosmic Ocean’ is by far the albums most visceral and visual number. Every time I get to this one, I feel like I’m swimming in the deep void of space with some interdimensional whalelike creatures in perfect peace. Like we’re old friends and they’re happy to see me. This is how you end a sonic journey.

As I said, at just over 30 minutes in length, it’s nowhere near the longest album The Hologram People have in their esteemed back catalogue. That said, Sacred Ritual to Unlock the Mountain Portal will always hold a special place in my heart and record collection. It’s one of those records that BEACAUSE of its length makes you flip it over for another spin, another ride. In the past I’ve waxed lyrical about how this band fires my imagination, sends me on fantastical journeys in my head. Well, this is where it all starts. This 2024 remaster polishes up and sends these songs sparkling into your ears. If you missed out first time around this is your chance. Let Dreamlord and Kosmische take the controls.

The all new remixed and remastered Sacred Ritual to Unlock the Mountain Portal is out via Dreamlord Recordings on Thursday 24th October 2024. This time around its pressed on gorgeous sacred sunset orange 180g heavy weight vinyl with obi strip and is limited to 300 copies. Get on over to Dreamlord Recordings Bandcamp Page and follow them so you don’t miss out. This one is going to fly.

You can follow The Hologram People on social media here…

Black Doldrums – In Limerence

Hailing from London, Black Doldrums are a band that seamlessly blends the haunting allure of gothic rock with the dreamy, distorted layers of shoegaze. Founded by Kevin Gibbard and Sophie Landers, the duo has carved out a unique niche in the scene with their dark, atmospheric sound.

Their debut album, Dead Awake, released in 2022, blew my tiny mind. It showcased their signature style, earning them a dedicated following and critical acclaim. Parallels were made to stalwarts of the scene like The Jesus and Mary Chain, Joy Division and The Cure. All of which I agree with, but they bring their own spin too.

Now they return with their sophomore release In Limerence, of which their PR had this to say.

“Black Doldrums continues to push the boundaries of their sound, delving deeper into the realms of post-punk and darkwave influences. Their music will transport you to a smoky underground bar, filled with the raw emotion and sonic depth that only they can deliver.”

 Let’s drop the needle and see where the music takes us.

The album kicks off in true goth style with the driving sound of ‘Hideaway’. It’s a dark sonic trip down a highway at night, pedal to the metal. Vocals float over heavy, reverberating guitars. It feels like stepping into an enigmatic, moody dream. It’s a pacy start and a great intro to the album.

‘Dying for You’ next is pretty intense. It’s got this raw, languid energy with a strong post-punk vibe. The track is driven by melodic bass and synths against pounding drums, creating a kind of dark, atmospheric soundscape. The vocals carry a sense of longing and desperation, which really ties into the song’s theme.

The whole vibe of the album changes with ‘Summer Breeze’. It’s got that retro indie pop feel that immediately endeared it to my ears. Like some lost Primitives or Mary Chain track. I had to give this one a spin on my October DKFM show.

‘Dwell or Depart’ has this captivating aura, with guitars that echo through a shadowy soundscape. The rhythm is persistent, almost hypnotic. Vocals seem to whisper secrets, creating an atmosphere that’s both eerie and beautiful.

‘Painting Smiles’ has an almost cinematic quality. The song builds layers of sound that make you feel like you’re charging headlong through a forest at midnight. The guitars chime and lead the melody. There’s a poignant sense of yearning in the vocals. It feels like it captures both the beauty and the melancholy of fleeting moments.

The band strip thing back for ‘Need’. Minimalism is the order of the day. Drums and bass the constant while the guitar trades licks with the vocals. There’s a tension that never quite resolves, keeping you on edge. That nervous energy holding your attention start to finish.

‘In Silence’ next has this overwhelming ambience that builds slowly throughout the track. Drums playing just off the beat are propulsive and coupled with that bassline are devastating. The guitar work has an almost hypnotic quality, with delicate, intricate picking patterns that create a weirdly soothing mood, counter to the overall energy of the track. This is seriously clever stuff.

‘Tarantula’ has a more brooding, atmospheric vibe. Guitars are sparse but rich and textured, creating layers that weave into each other. The rhythm section adds a steady, almost mesmerising pulse. Vocals are distant, haunting even. But for me, that fits perfectly with the overall moodiness of the track.

Theres something Autumnal about ‘Changing of a Season’. The song weaves together delicate guitar melodies with a steady, contemplative beat. The vocals have a wistful quality, capturing the essence of transition and transformation. It’s got this serene yet emotionally charged air, almost like watching the leaves turn and fall in slow motion.

‘New Moon’ is nothing short of lush. It feels luxurious in its textures and production. Like a velvet lined suit it just feels so enjoyable throughout. I especially enjoy the guitar melody in the instrumental breaks. Could this be my album stand out track? I think so.

The album comes to and end all too soon with ‘Modern Times’. Channelling that vintage synth-pop feel with a modern twist. The song pulsates with electrifying energy, carrying those crisp, futuristic synth lines reminiscent of Gary Numan’s iconic sound. The vocals cut through with a sharp, cool delivery, blending seamlessly with the upbeat, driving rhythms. It’s like a retro-futuristic anthem that rounds this LP nicely.

In Limerence feels like a bold step forward. There’s a noticeable maturity in the sound—like Black Doldrums found a way to delve deeper into their musical hearts. It feels more cohesive and polished, yet still raw and genuine. There’s a sense of evolution in the way they experiment with textures and layers, creating a more complex listen that is equal parts exciting and contemplative. If you were expecting just more of the same then you are in for such a treat.  I can’t wait to hear where they go next.

In Limerence is out now via Fuzz Club Records. You can also grab the vinyl or CD over on the Black Doldrums Bandcamp page.

You can follow Black Doldrums on social media here….

A Place To Bury Strangers – Synthesizer

I know, like me, you probably really love loud music. At the moment you’d be pushed to find a louder act out there than A Place To Bury Strangers. New York’s finest have crafted a reputation for incendiary live performances and equally potent albums. This iteration of the band feature John and Sandra Fedowitz with front man Oliver Ackerman.

Ackerman is also known in musicians’ circles for his handmade guitar effect company, Death By Audio. I use his Fuzz War pedal myself. It’s not just me though he can count Lou Reed to Radiohead, St. Vincent, Arctic Monkeys, and Animal Collective as big fans of his pedals.

For this album the title Synthesizer isn’t just a title. It’s an actual synthesizer that Ackerman built specifically for this release. In fact, if you buy the vinyl version of this album, you’ll see the schematic for it built into the sleeve design. You can even buy the parts for it with your pre order from Death by Audio if you have the skills needed to put one together yourself. Ackerman had this to say about the album.

“In an era of making music where so little is DIY and so much is left up to AI, never setting foot in a practice room or a home studio, making something that feels deliberately chaotic, messy, and human, is entirely the point. Synthesizer is a record that celebrates sounds that are spontaneous and natural, the kind of music that can only come from collaboration and community.”

The album opens with a visceral punch. ‘Disgust’ abrasive guitars and relentless drums create a sense of unease. That insistent bass punches through as wild as the maelstrom around it is. It’s unabashed energy and dynamic moments that allow the vocals to pop tie it all together. Phew this is going to be a ride.

‘Don’t Be Sorry’ brings the vocals more to the front of the mix. It feels like Ackerman is standing at your shoulder. This might sound weird but I get a kind English folk, even prog rock kinda vibe from this one. Despite that trademark cutting fuzz.

We enter Kosmische territory next with ‘Fear Of Transformation’. There’s a real Germanic feel to this song, it even feels like we are on the autobahn at midnight. The motorik driving drums carry the song until those tumultuous guitars come crashing in.

‘Join The Crowd’ taps into a goth aesthetic with its doom-laden bass and static guitar chords. What’s clever here is the drums are playing a slightly slowed disco beat that you can’t help but nod along to. This is a solid groove and I can imagine is a big hit in their live sets.

We are back in the vortex of noise next with ‘Bad Idea’. There’s something chilling about this one. I could imagine this being great in a horror movie soundtrack. The swells of guitars over the chant of “I’ve got a bad idea” in the chorus are tremendous. The use of tremolo making it sound like they are trying to talk to us. This is an incredibly overwhelming listen and each time I’ve stuck it on in the headphones I get more and more excited by its ambition.

It’s pure darkwave next with ‘You Got Me’. As a more straightforward gothic pop song it shines in contrast to the preceding track. Combining catchy melodies with a lighter touch to the band’s signature noise-rock elements. The infectious rhythm and playful synths provide a counterfoil to the album’s darker moments.

‘It’s Too Much’ revisits the feeling of being overwhelmed. The relentless pace and intense instrumentation mirror the chaos of the modern world. I’m sure we can all relate.

It feels like we’ve stepped in a time machine and gone back to the retro futuristic 80’s next. ‘Plastic Future’ sounds like some lost synth band from the English midlands. As always it wouldn’t be a A Place To Bury Strangers song without squalls of feedback. However. the application here in the gaps in the track show a deft touch and add that extra something to make this track really special

Ackerman taps into his romantic side next, or does he? ‘Have You Ever Been In Love’ veers from lush warm vocals to the cacophony of crashing synths and guitars. The frenetic pace set by the demanding drums again keeping that anxious energy peaked at eleven.

The album comes to a close all too soon with the expansive cyber romp that is ‘Comfort Never Comes’. Its dark melancholia acts like the perfect full stop to this collection of songs. I particularly loved the twanging guitar effect on the lead sections

Overall, Synthesizer is a powerful exploration of emotion and sound, each track offering a unique and immersive experience. There’s a raw live room sound to this recording which sounds to me like the band aiming to capture that energy and playfulness of their stage performances.  Ackermann says, “Going to shows and bringing that imperfect and beautiful DIY ethos is important.” This album is the distillation of that beautiful imperfection. How Ackerman and co have managed it is beyond me but Synthesizer is wild and untamed. Would we have them any other way though?

Synthesizer is out on 4th October 2024 via Dedstrange. You can preorder the vinyl copy from the A Place To Bury Strangers Bandcamp page, the bands webstore and, of course, your favourite indie record store.

You can follow A Place To Bury Strangers on social media here …

Photo Credit

Ebru Yildiz

San Carol – Mala Vida

My vinyl addiction has introduced me to so many amazing folks over the years and one of those people is Maxime Dobosz. We often share links to shoegaze releases we both love and buy from each other from time to time. As well as vinyl collector of consummate taste Maxime also has his own shoegaze project called San Carol. To date he’s released three albums of transcendent sounds and has just dropped album number four, Mala Vida. San Carol is his solo project as he also plays in bands such as Big Wool, Sandwich and Asexual. In that same spirit the line up of San Carol changes album to album.

“Maxime ironically says that this album is in a way his “anthology of shoegaze for dummies” as it explores the different corners of the genre, ranging from references to Slowdive, my bloody valentine or Moose, to talk about the most known. However, they sought to propose a production of the already known codes of the genre with a sound deafening and harsh, like having your head sunk under water.“

Let’s dive in and see how that aesthetic bears out on the speakers.

The album opens on ‘come what may’.  Immediately you get a sense that this guy knows what he’s doing. This is an amazing pop song first and foremost. The vocal melody is so catchy but it’s what Dobosz swathes that melody in that most impresses. The washed-out guitar and chiming bass recalls some of the Cocteau Twins finest moments. This is a very strong start.

Next up its time to ‘cool out’. Guitars are pushed to the limits here. Feedback becoming an instrument in and of itself. Once again though it’s the song that is at the heart of this, the vocal melody shining through the haze of reverb and fuzz. The standard of production on show here is sky high.

The first guest appears on ‘modern times’. Baptiste, the singer from French hardcore band Fragile joins proceedings. This song has an ethereal, gossamer light vocal intro that suddenly erupts into a fuzzed-out anthem. You could draw parallels to the styles of bands like Nothing, Whirr or Cloakroom in places but this merely nods to its ancestors and sets sail on its own course.

‘goldenwings’ is another example of swathing a stunning pop song in atmospheric guitars and vocal effects. I particularly enjoyed the drumming on this song. The fills on the breaks are class. The guitar solo at the end is a masterclass in beautiful simplicity. Overall, the song straddles the divide between dream pop and shoegaze creating an addictive listening experience.

The album drops tempo and intensity for an acoustic moment called ‘Wildfire’. A vocal loop forming the basis of the melody against an earnestly strummed acoustic begins things. It’s a wonderfully atmospheric track that when it brings in drums and additional lead guitar it never overwhelms that gentle aesthetic so carefully crafted by that opening section.

We’re in ‘unsustainable’ next featuring a guest performance from Sale, a pop artist from Dobosz’ hometown of Angers, France. She’s a superb choice for this dreampop number. The chorus sections really make the most of her angelic voice against the crashing guitars.  There’s a joyous energy throughout this track, you can tell they had a lot of fun making it.

We screech headlong into the sonic maelstrom of’ nothing fills up the hole ‘next. The opening riff hits like a tidal wave. The electronic pulses in the verse sections are the perfect foil for the potent guitar work on show here. There’s heavy and then there’s this. Total face melting rock!

The final guest appearance comes from French folk singer Claire Days on supercharged power pop anthem ‘pay no mind’. This feels like a lost artifact from 1991, it’s baggy beat and reverse guitar wails take me back to my youth and I’m here for it. That chorus is just genius, taking off into the stratosphere the way it does. I loved this one so much I had to play on DKFM Shoegaze Radio show back in May.

All too soon the album comes to a close with the soft and euphoric ‘waterfall’. Dobosz strips the San Carol sound back to guitar and voice to deliver an powerful end to this album. This is the measure of him as a musician and songwriter. For this song to have the emotional weight and gravitas with just voice and guitar is an amazing achievement.

Mala Vida paints a vivid picture of Maxime Dobosz’s adeptness in crafting shoegaze music that resonates deeply with the listener. Catchy vocal melodies enveloped in lush, atmospheric instrumentation evoke a nostalgia and warm emotions, and that’s the core of it. Emotions. This is an album designed to make you feel something. Whether that’s elation or sadness, excitement or loneliness this album takes you directly to that place. For me that is the sign of someone who cares deeply about their craft, and make no mistake Dobosz cares deeply. That’s evident in each and every song.

Dobosz says that this will be the final San Carol album. If that is the case, then he is leaving us with work fitting to be that end marker, the full stop to this era of his creativity. Life can get bad, that’s for sure. When music this beautiful is created as a result however I say belle vie.

Mala Vida is out now on the San Carol Bandcamp page.

You can follow San Carol on social media here…..

Blankenberge – New Rules

Blankenberge are a much beloved band on the shoegaze scene. With three stunning albums behind them they’ve secured their place in our hearts. Hailing from St Petersburg in the Russian Federation their glacial tones have been exciting us since 2015. With the band not being signed to a label they have self-released everything to date. Which is a massive achievement given everything going on in their country at the moment.

That’s about to change as they will be releasing a new single and album with Automatic Music. Automatic Music is a record label and concert promoter based in the Netherlands run by Antonio Zelada (Resplandor).

It is currently the record label for Blankenberge, Life On Venus, Resplandor, Brian Wenckebach and has also licensed and released albums by The Ocean Blue, The Radio Dept., Robin Guthrie, Lovesliescrushing, Asobi Seksu, Japandroids and many more.

Today we have a sneak peek at the single called ‘New Rules’. It’s quintessential Blankenberge. The song opens on lush synth and bass until the insistent drums start driving things forward. Yana’s vocals remain as beautiful as always. The guitars come crashing in and send the song soaring. The first time I heard this track I’ll not lie; I did get teary eyed. I have a real love for this bands music and have done since Radiogaze came out. To hear them return with a track of this emotional intensity is just overwhelmingly joyful.

Blankenberge will return with a new album in the new year and you can be sure you can read a track by track analysis here on Static Sounds Club nearer the time.

‘New Rules’ is out this Friday September 27th 2024. Check out the Blankenberge Bandcamp page and the Automatic Music Bandcamp page to make sure you don’t miss out.

You can follow Blankenberge on social media here…..

julie – my anti​-​aircraft friend

Californian gazers Julie first dropped into our consciousness with the now legendary ‘flutter’ single. It was a real breath of fresh air and with ‘starjump’ / ‘kit’ following close after it was obvious this band were the real deal. When the Pushing Daisies EP came out it absolutely blew my mind, as did their subsequent single ‘pg.4 a picture of three hedges’ / ‘through your window’.

Now the band, who are Keyan Pourzand (Vocals, Guitar), Dillon Lee (Drums) and Alex Brady aka Alexandria Elizabeth- (Vocals, Bass), are back with their long-anticipated debut album. The band have been working on my anti-aircraft friend for some time now as they explained in their interview with Dork earlier this month.

“We’ve been working on the record since December of 2022 actively, but some of the songs’ original fruition dates back to 2019. It was a mix of recording some songs, going on tour, writing, recording another few, touring, etc.”

Having teased us with some singles prior to release my excitement levels for this album have piqued. Let’s drop the needle and dive in.

We open on the single ‘catalogue’. Brady’s vocal both blasé and driving. Guitars growl, spit and snarl in a way that is reminiscent of Thurston Moore. Lyrics talk of fears unshed through time and dreams unfulfilled. It’s a strong opener and sets the scene well.

Following this is the dynamic ‘tenebrist’. Equal parts wall of noise and pop song it’s everything that early shoegaze was. That contradictory nature of what you’re hearing making you want to listen again and again. There’s so many modern gaze bands miss this aspect in their music. julie nail it here.

On my DKFM Shoegaze Radio show this month I played ‘very little effort’. I was taken with its layered sound and interplay between Pourzand and Brady’s vocal performances. It’s great songwriting that keeps you guessing as to where you’re heading next.

‘clairbourne practice’ grabs you by the throat from the first note. The song envelops you in a haze of nostalgia with its unmistakable nods to early My Bloody Valentine in its guitar riff and vocal delivery. It’s a powerhouse delivery and when it reaches those false stops, you’re left breathless.

The band pull back their defences a bit on ‘knob’ revealing a vulnerable side to their sound. Stripped back guitar and vocals makes up the majority of this deeply affecting track. Lyrically the words are esoteric and leave an emotional mark. Now, it’s not chilled the whole way through but at the mid-point of the album this tells us that julie have plenty surprises up their sleeves yet.

In complete contrast ‘thread, stitch’ has a real density. It’s almost as if the band are playing in treacle. I put it down to that fat bass tone Brady delivers. Vocally this feels like a conversation with our two vocalists trading lines. Ultimately, it goes to show that the simplest of melodies can be the most impactful.

In the Brady penned ‘feminine adornments’ we hear our narrator taking control and asserting herself. We also hear a prime example of the sonically rich and emotionally resonant delivery julie are so adept at. Vocals delivered with a mix of vulnerability and strength over a steady and insistent backing, sometimes with real menace. “Any other reason, to get me off her throat” for example.

‘I’ll cook my own meals’ has a pinch of Malkmus and Cobain liberally sprinkled with that signature julie magic. Musically its very much a homage to that 90’s aesthetic with those quiet loud quiet dynamics and sledgehammer guitars that kick in like a hurricane. Pourzand’s drawl leans heavily into that slacker sound and it really pays dividends when accompanied by this backing. I’m actually surprised this wasn’t picked as a single.

The obtusely titled ‘piano instrumental’ follows. Featuring neither a piano and not being an instrumental. The song opens on a languid and laid back Pourzand, lazily bringing us into the song. It’s not until Brady enters the fray that we realise, this is a part two for ‘feminine adornments. We hear repeated lyrical motifs that bring us back but with a new perspective.

The album concludes with the more genteel ‘stuck in a car with angels. This is, for the most part, guitar and vocals, with Brady’s surefooted and assured delivery being the backbone of the piece. Even when the sonic tornado begins her style doesn’t change to either combat or match the intensity. She somehow seems to rise above it, like the titular angel.

my anti-aircraft friend was a highly anticipated album. When bands set their bar high with their early work and online presence then that debut album can sometimes fall flat or not meet our lofty expectations. I’m very pleased to report that julie haven’t just met my expectations, they have far exceeded them. This album isn’t a one trick pony, single textured experience. There’s so much going on and I never knew what was coming next. I’ve been living with the album for a couple of weeks now and I’m still finding new aspects of the performances I love on every single listen. If shoegaze or grunge is your thing then julie need to be your new favourite band. They are going to be massive.

my anti-aircraft friend is out now on Atlantic Records and is available digitally on CD and vinyl.

You can follow julie on social media here…

Photo Credits

Maya Sprangler

Hello Mary – Emita Ox

I have to admit to having a bit of a soft spot for power trios. There’s something about the directness of the music they make that really speaks to me. Such was my immediate love for the new album from New York based Hello Mary.

Still in their late teens and early twenties, Helena Straight (guitar, vocals), Mikaela Oppenheimer (bass, synth) and Stella Wave (vocals, drums) formed the band in 2019 from a youth music programme in their New York City High school. They have already toured with the likes of Silversun Pickups, American Football and DIIV and received rave reviews for both their recorded works and live performances.

Listening back to their earlier long players 2020’s Ginger and their 2023 self-titled album, it was obvious the band have a deep affection for that alt rock sound of the early nineties. However, the band say that this their third album, Emita Ox, see’s them forging their own path.

“The band have adopted certain elements from their touring contemporaries while making a sound distinctly their own, playing with elements of shoegaze, noise rock, post-rock, and mixed-metre composition. They present an intriguing contrast between dreamy, ethereal moments and unfiltered, noisy chaos, while still maintaining their signature playfulness. This results in a record with the freshness of a debut.”

That description pretty much ticks every box for me. Let’s drop the needle and turn the amp up to eleven.

The album opens on the ominous chords of ‘Float’. Already you can hear the progression in the bands sound. It’s the guitar keeping time here as the drums play around the beat with real intent. Before we get too comfortable the band switch it up with bass and drums exploding as the guitars get frantic and vocals are screamed to a sudden conclusion. It’s only the opening track and I’m out of breath but smiling ear to ear.

That leads neatly into ‘0%’ with Wave channelling her inner Kim Gordon to deliver a powerhouse vocal performance. Meanwhile the bass and drums drive the song forward with some genius switch ups in tempo and volume that keep your attention zoned right in. Guitars are serpentine and slide around the notes with abandon and man, I’m here for it!

‘Three’ arrives on this luscious rolling chord progression and angelic vocals. This song is where the band pluck the albums title from, a spoken word section in the mid-point. Just after that the song tips into a powerful fuzzed out free fall that’s incredibly exhilarating. The band are choosing to operate in various rhythmic patterns and time signatures within songs which makes for such a satisfying listen.

The next track opens with what sounds like that viral drum video beat. You know the one with the balancing stick on the hi hats. ‘Down My Life’ is a song owned by Oppenheimer’s stunning bass work. She fills the space between the vocals and the guitars with a gorgeous walking pattern that erupts into a growling retort, snarling over the chorus sections.

‘Knowing You’ has the feel of a horse straining at the reins wanting to gallop but not yet. The steady drums and pendulous bass keep us in time and grounded but this song needs to fly. It’s not long until that first chorus loose the reins and we’re off. Like a rocket, the band explodes heavenwards taking us with them. The guitar tone in this section is particularly potent. I’d love to know what pedals were involved.

The first curveball of the album comes next in ‘Heavy Sleeper’. To my ears this feels like some SMiLe outtake that Brian Wilson wishes he wrote. Those effected backing vocals are so impactful against the minimal instrumentation.

That takes us into the shining beating heart of this album. ‘Footstep Misstep’ is the very zenith of the band’s experimentation on this album. The variety of styles they seamlessly weave throughout this one track tells you all you need to know about these three as songwriters. Nothing is off the table as they charge and bob and weave at us.

‘Courtesy’ is a more relaxed affair and blends that bedroom pop vocal with a potent indie rock track. Even when the guitars are raging that gentle vocal tempers the flames and sweetens the tea leaving the listener in a state of bliss.

‘Hiyeahi’ is their robotic tone poem for an apocalypse gone right. Equal parts eerie, demonic and optimistic it serves as a palate cleanser as we head into the next track.

The band lean into their shoegaze and dreampop influences next with the effusive ‘Bubble’. One half an acoustic, almost folk song. The other an aural assault akin to Sonic Youth at their artiest. The glue in between is the harmony driven vocals, which I believe are Hello Mary’s secret weapon.

All too soon the album comes to a close. ‘Everything We Do’ an acoustic indie track that bounces along on those sweet vocal harmonies is the perfect choice to end proceedings on. It leads on nicely from the acoustic element in ‘Bubble’ and sends us on our way with a big smile on our faces.  

Emita Ox is nothing short of stunning. This was my introduction to the band (much to my shame) and I’m pleased to say that this was an instant hit to my ears. I didn’t need multiple listens to know that this was going to be appearing on my end of year list. I’m way past multiple listens now (maybe even umpteen) and the album just get better each time. It reveals more layers of intricacy, more nuances that endears this band to me more and more.

Emita Ox is out now on Frenchkiss Records and is available digitally from the Hello Mary Bandcamp page and on a variety of colours of vinyl from your favourite record shop.

You can follow Hello Mary on social media here….

Photo Credit

Cooper Winterson

SPIRIT OF THE BEEHIVE – YOU’LL HAVE TO LOSE SOMETHING

Of all the bands I’ve come across over the last few years there’s only one that defies all attempts to pigeon hole or classify. Philadelphia’s SPIRIT OF THE BEEHIVE have made some of the last decades most ground-breaking music across four stunning studio albums. Each album more confounding and spellbinding than the last. Entertainment, Death from 2021 moved that sound into another level with a mindboggling amount of intricacy ploughed into the construction of each track. That was followed by the single ‘The Door’ which came out the same year. It followed the same groove as the album and was an immersive listen both sides. With last years I’m So Lucky EP bringing that era of the band’s music to an end we were left wondering what would be next for these sonic adventurers.

Well, the answer to that question is YOU’LL HAVE TO LOSE SOMETHING. Zack Schwartz, Corey Wichlin, and Rivka Ravede return with their fifth album and this time it’s more of an emotional affair. This being the first album since Ravede and Schwartz ended their 10-year relationship. Reading the PR for this album throws up more question marks than answers. That’s just the SPIRIT OF THE BEEHIVE way though.

“The goal in making YOU’LL HAVE TO LOSE SOMETHING was to soften out some of the edges. “Less hard left turns,” says Wichlin. “We wanted to make something intentionally less antagonistic,” he jokes. In practice, this means the record has slightly fewer drastic arrangement changes, and it is more stripped down.”

A more stripped-down album? I’ll believe it when I hear it. Part of the joy of this band’s music is the anxious busy energy they maintain through the many layers of their productions. Right, no more dilly dallying. Let’s drop the needle and see what’s happening.

The album opener ‘THE DISRUPTION’ features an appearance from experimental synth punk band MSPAINT. The song is immediately archetypal SOTB multi layered, weird and shifts direction and pace on a dime. This is exactly what I was hoping for. There’s so much going on that I know multiple listens will be rewarded with new parts revealing themselves. For example, the luscious harmony vocals behind the hardcore screamo section.

The smash cut into ‘STRANGER ALIVE’ raises that anxiety level in time for the song to fly away with it. The switch from the sample mash up noise mosaic in Ravede’s lush vocal part is sublime. As is the trade to Schwartz and Wichlin to close out the song. Man, this is on point and here we are, five albums in and this band are still pulling rabbits out hats and leaving us breathless.

‘THE CUT DEPICTS THE CUT’ starts off all bleeps and bloops and a frenetic drum machine has a nervous breakdown unsure about what patch it’s meant to play, so it plays them all hoping to placate us. Ravede is sounding menacing in her delivery, almost mono tone yet finding colour in all the right places. After a short-rapped section over a breakbeat the eerie closing section strips it all back until a detuned acoustic remains strumming out the bass heavy outro.

A vocal harmony flourishes beckons us into lead single ‘LET THE VIRGIN DRIVE’. “Heaven is a lie cause you are earthly and you’re alive,” Schwartz sings at the song’s outset in after those signature, tightly auto tuned vocals. At first listen this could come across as a more straightforward song than we’re used to. Worry not the usual dynamic twists and turns arrive in the closing minute. As usual its that dark and wonderful vibe they disappear into before the song rises again like a phoenix. Check out the video here.

My album highlight follows in ‘SORRY PORE INJECTOR’. Starting like some late-night radio call in show all smoky sax and moody keys it slowly evolves into it a driving slacker classic. The chord choices here are inspired and the changes unexpected. The song constantly eats itself and regurgitates a new form, always with a tie to that original theme. It’s a classic piece of SOTB inventiveness with one eye on evolving their approach and one on maintaining that atmosphere we know and love.

‘FOUND A BODY’ is a relatively stripped back affair in contrast. All glitchy beats and vocal treatments. There’s minimal instrumentation here, but the vocal interplay is where the magics at. There’s something quite cinematic in the closing section of the song that I love and makes me smile every time I hear it. I wouldn’t be surprised if this ends up on a soundtrack one day.

There’s also a very sweeping, cinematic intro to ‘SUN SWEPT THE EVENING RED’. After that airy orchestral flourish, the song becomes an eerie ballad. Whilst the vocal melody is pure pop the backing is anxious and jittery. The perfect foil.

‘SOMETHINGS ENDING’ is the shortest track on here and somehow manages to be creepier and freakier in under two minutes than anything else on here. In a good way of course. It seems to be about finding a dead body in a river and the crazy instrumentation just amps up the nervous energy to the max.

Then its straight into ‘I’VE BEEN EVIL’. This is about as accessible a song as I’ve ever heard from a SPIRIT OF THE BEEHIVE album. Vocal melodies are on point again. Different on each verse and lyrically getting darker and darker as the song progresses. I think this is as close to dancefloor filler as we’ll get from the band.

There’s a further development of the bands more accessible side on ‘1/500’. There’s only the lightest use of vocal treatments. This has flashes of Radiohead and Arcade Fire but always comes back to what we love about them. That unusual time signature, that minor resolution and start stop dynamic.

‘DUPLICATE SPOTTED’ is the gift that keeps giving. After an understated opening (well as understated as this band can be) the song erupts and a driving guitar plays off Ravede’s angelic vocal. This contrast is sublime. Not content with giving us that we also get treated to a wonderful ambient outro that is equally heavenly. Man, I don’t want this album to end.

End it must and our closer comes in the form of ‘EARTH KIT’. Discordant strings open proceedings before the vocals kick in. I don’t know why but it made me think of ‘Vienna’ by Ultravox for about 30 seconds or so. That’s short lived. When the line “In a lifetime of your own violent design who will sing your happy songs?” I get goosebumps. It’s not just the sentiment in that line, it’s the impassioned delivery too. Couple that with the closing plea of “What if I need people” and I’m gone, a bubbling mess.

In all the press for this album I had kept reading that this was going to be the bands most accessible album to date and that songs were going to follow a more straightforward structure. I’m pleased to report that is not the case and in YOU’LL HAVE TO LOSE SOMETHING the band have once again visited the contrary, euphoric and downright sinister world that all their songs inhabit. Yes, ok, there are brief moments where you think things are going down a more traditional song structure route but they are always short lived. We’re back luxuriating in the genius that is SPIRIT OF THE BEEHIVE in no time.

I’m so grateful that given what this band have been through that they have stayed the course and delivered an album of unbridled creativity and wild imagination. In a world of cookie cutter indie bands, I’ll always be grateful for true originals, true mavericks like SPIRIT OF THE BEEHIVE.

YOU’LL HAVE TO LOSE SOMETHING is out now via Saddle Creek Records and is also available via the SPIRIT OF THE BEEHIVE Bandcamp page as well as your favourite local record store.

You can follow SPIRIT OF THE BEEHIVE on social media here …..

Photo Credits

@davidbrandongeeting