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27 March 2017
INTERVIEW: My Dark House.
My Dark House is the Mississippi-based husband and wife duo of Lindsey and
Will Thornton. Their sound is foundationally post-punk, but fused with strong
elements of shoegaze and dream pop. They first came to our attention last year,
after releasing a string of captivating singles via Bandcamp. We were
intrigued. We’re still intrigued. Enjoy getting to know My Dark House with us.
How
and when was the band formed?
My Dark House was a largely abandoned project of
mine from around 2013, but after my wife expressed interest in learning to play
the bass guitar, I decided to start it back up. She picked up the instrument
very quickly, and we settled on the idea of being a duo. We decided to use a
drum machine, and keep in-line with a minimal approach to our music.
Can
you tell us what the band has been working on and what you’ve got forthcoming
in the near future (any new releases, tour, etc.)?
We’ve just released an EP, titled I Heard You Crying, and have already
begun writing a full length that we plan on releasing sometime in late
spring/early summer. The two of us have finally found the direction and sound
we have been looking for, so we are pouring all of our efforts into putting out
an album that we’re excited about.
21 March 2017
INTERVIEW: Seasurfer.
Seasurfer is a German ethereal
dream pop outfit launched
by Dirk Knight, formerly of Dark Orange, in 2013. The band made a splash
immediately with their debut LP, Dive In,
via Saint Marie Records in 2014
and have since become a fixture in the scene. The band’s excellent forthcoming
LP, Under
The Milkyway… Who Cares, is set for release this Friday; you can read
our review of the album here.
We hope you enjoy the following interview with Seasurfer’s creator and
principle force, Dirk Knight.
How and when was the band formed?
I believe it was in 2012 when we did a sound check for my dream-pop band Dark Orange here in Hamburg in a club called "Der grüne Jäger". We performed a fast and noisy song and the barkeep who didn’t know our band came over said: "Fucking great, I thought you were a school band, but that was cool shoegaze stuff". It also felt great diving into a fuzzy wall of sound. That was the moment I decided to start a new band...and Seasurfer was born.
Can you tell us what the band has been working on and what you've got forthcoming in the near future (any new releases, tour, etc.)?
We released our first album, Dive In, in 2014. In 2015, we did a club tour together with Last Leaf Down and The History of Colour TV, performed live at the well-known WGT-Festival in Leipzig, and released a 4-track EP In The Headlights via a successful crowdfunding campaign. Last year we recorded and mixed our new album which will be out this month on the great Saint Marie Records. We have our first live shows in Germany scheduled for the autumn.
How and when was the band formed?
I believe it was in 2012 when we did a sound check for my dream-pop band Dark Orange here in Hamburg in a club called "Der grüne Jäger". We performed a fast and noisy song and the barkeep who didn’t know our band came over said: "Fucking great, I thought you were a school band, but that was cool shoegaze stuff". It also felt great diving into a fuzzy wall of sound. That was the moment I decided to start a new band...and Seasurfer was born.
Can you tell us what the band has been working on and what you've got forthcoming in the near future (any new releases, tour, etc.)?
We released our first album, Dive In, in 2014. In 2015, we did a club tour together with Last Leaf Down and The History of Colour TV, performed live at the well-known WGT-Festival in Leipzig, and released a 4-track EP In The Headlights via a successful crowdfunding campaign. Last year we recorded and mixed our new album which will be out this month on the great Saint Marie Records. We have our first live shows in Germany scheduled for the autumn.
20 March 2017
ALBUM REVIEW: Seasurfer | Under the Milky Way... Who Cares.
Release
Date: March 24, 2017
Saint
Marie Records
Germany’s Seasurfer
is a band that has seen a lot of personnel changes. Most notable was the loss
of original singer Dorian E, replaced by the sultry tones of Julia Beyer.
Barely missing a beat, they have stomped forward and carved out their own space
in a crowded shoegaze scene. More punk than other bands labelled as shoegazers,
they also have a noise pop elements that will please headbangers. But deep in
the heart of all their music is an upwelling of heavenly hooks and stunning
soundscapes. Leader Dirk Knight wields a mean guitar, but only in the sense
that he has the chops. His sense of the genres he straddles stylistically is
wise and he makes the right choices in his use of effects. Bassist Volker
Zacharias is all over the grooves on this record, with thick, rubbery bass
lines that bounce inside your brain like a slingshot. And as for drums, I am
not sure who is responsible for playing the parts here, but it all works well.
Lead in track “Tricolore” is bizarre, jarring, and
noisy. Words in French tumble through and you wonder what it’s all about.
Frenzied percussion wars with bass and fuzzed out guitar, and then it turns
strangely quiet as it fades to a close. “Too Late For Goodbye” continues the
fast moving pace, only with Julia stepping up to the mic and offering a pretty
vocal. It’s like a silvery dream turned inside out, and it reveals the band’s
love for noisier structures. Still, it hovers between dream pop and its noisier
shoegaze cousin, without quite being either one. “Falling” is glorious, dark
shoegaze. It’s slightly over six minutes, and it’s still not long enough. It’s
a dream that you want to last forever, and is possibly the best track here. “If
You Leave” starts up with a lead synth line that knocks you off kilter, and
it’s only eclipsed by Julia’s beautiful voice and Dirk’s glistening layers of
guitar drenched with reverb. And wow, that guitar solo will launch you straight
into orbit. Really cool work! “The Roads We Take” sounds like their older work,
and that is by no means a criticism. It falls closer to the traditional
constructs of shoegaze, something that always works for this band. It floats and
soothes even while it shreds. Very nice!
“By The River” starts off with a Space
Invaders-like sound and morphs into Julia emoting in French. No matter the
intent of the lyrics, it’s more about the feeling it evokes in you. It’s a head
rush of sound, one that never lets up over roughly four minutes. It truly
demands a good set of headphones to appreciate the maze of sonics, which are
fascinating and always beautiful. “Confusion” is punk with psychedelic
inflections, and beneath the shimmering wave of sound is a massive hook. And
boy, the bass work here is stellar. “Symetrie” could write the playbook on
dream pop, it so perfectly defines the noisier side of that genre. Drums beat
gently like a heartbeat over Julia’s sweet voice, and guitar is way back in the
mix. Then at two minutes, the drums comes smashing through the mix and keep you
transfixed to the song’s end. “Trust the Path Unseen” is another gorgeous tune,
piled high with the shimmering haze of Dirk’s guitar and Julia’s darkly angelic
vocals. The band dials it back a bit and reveals a soft, billowy center to this
song. It ends a challenging yet wonderful suite of songs that should please all
Seasurfer fans, and anyone else who wants to ride the sonic waves with this
great band.
16 March 2017
ALBUM REVIEW: Secret Shine | There Is Only Now.
Release Date: March 17, 2017
Saint Marie Records
There’s a mystery and elegance in this group’s sound, reminding me of the equally tantalizing High Violets. It’s a certain je ne sais quoi that surrounds their swirling melodies and hazy bright compositions. And it’s a welcome and refreshing change from much of the shoegaze and dreampop humdrum that passes for nu-gaze these days. It’s so easy to fall into the MBV/Slowdive trap that keeps so many bands from standing out. In fact, I can honestly say that Secret Shine sound only like themselves, only a hundred times better than in the past, due to strong compositions and great production. Having interviewed the engaging and friendly Kathryn Smith (keyboards/vocals) a few years back and then having the great pleasure of meeting her in person and seeing the band last spring at NYC Popfest, I am well and truly hooked by this band. And you should be too, after hearing the gorgeous gems they have in store for you!
Where do I even start? You can put the needle or skip forward on the CD anywhere, and you’ll be treated to stunning dream pop and ethereal shoegaze of the best sort. But you might as well start with the glistening wonder of “Burning Stars”, a lovely confection that has Kathryn and vocalist/guitarist Dean Purnell trading vocals. The keyboards are warm and organic, and lay down a solid foundation for an already fantastic tune with pop flourishes. “All In Your Head” unfurls its majestic layers slowly, unveiling soft, dreamy vocals and a chiming, high pitched backdrop. The guitars drift slowly along before kicking the energy up on the bridge. “Dirty Game” hovers closer to post punk, save for the graceful notes from Kathryn’s keyboard playing. Dean’s sweet voice only lightens it further, but these sparkling motes are offset by slightly ominous bass and guitar. “Drift Away” is deceptively quiet, and just when you are caught up in its roller rink organ and peaceful riffs, the guitars really hit their high mark halfway through the song. I especially love Dean and Kathryn’s vocal interchange. Great!
Despite the sonic splendor of the first four songs, the dark swirl of “To the Well” is my favorite track of this song cycle. It’s the song I keep returning to, sucked straight in by that throbbing bass and punctuated by keyboard chirps. It reveals a different side to the group, its gloomier textures perfectly in sync with the troubled minds and hearts of people around the globe. The almost whispered voices only add to the atmosphere, and I bet they kill it live with this track. “For You” is equally cool, a perfect example of elemental shoegaze. Ringing guitars shaded with way cool effects? Of course. Mesmerizing melodies hooking you from the get go? You bet. Be prepared to surrender to its fiery embrace.
“Snowglobe” is more introspective and delicate, and imagine yourself walking through lightly falling snow, looking up in wonder at how it paints the landscape in silvery threads of frost. It’s the perfect soundscape for wintry nights. “Falling Again” is the type of song that makes this band so special, containing both that mysterious element and a ton of shimmer and shine overlaying it all. Lovely! “Things I Said” is a tightrope of tension and wonder, the aftermath of the type of discussion that can undo a relationship. It’s bound by a memorable chorus and is another favorite on an already excellent collection.
“Make Me You” is the final entry here, and you hate to hear it wind down. When you experience albums as fine as this one, you want to revisit it repeatedly. The band trots out all their hallmarks, glistening songcraft and heavenly vocals married to huge hooks. In short, this is a sonic lovefest for all lovers of good shoegaze and dream pop. Highly recommended!
15 March 2017
INTERVIEW: Sugar Candy Mountain.
One of my happiest first encounters of 2016 was discovering California’s
Sugar Candy Mountain. First came the droll and intriguing videos for “Eye on
You” and “Windows” from the project’s third and most recent LP, the delightful
and engrossing 666. (We posted “Windows” here.)
From there, I hopped over to a clip of the title track being performed live at
the Echoplex (embedded below). Amidst the appealing sound the band conjured
with ease, Ash Reiter’s performance as front person—her low-key charisma and
understated charm creating instant sparkle whenever she took the mic—riveted my
attention and clinched my status as a fan of the project. I quickly got hold of
666 and, soon after, the two previous full-lengths, finding them all impressive
and enchanting.
Exclusive Track Premiere: To The Wedding | Brightest Light.
To The
Wedding is the California-based project created by multi-instrumentalist
Lauren Grubb. After releasing the absolutely breathtaking Silver Currents in 2014, the project has remained mostly quiet. Anyone
familiar with Silver Currents, which illuminated the hearts and minds of many, has no doubt been eagerly awaiting further enchantments from TTW;
we certainly have been. It is a true-coming dream for us to exclusively
premiere a brand new track from To The Wedding for you today.
“Brightest Light” is slow-burning psych-gaze at its
smoldering finest. The song's atmosphere is both heady and trance-inducing; the melody
equal parts exquisite and devastating. Within the
nuanced haze of crushing guitar and crashing drums, Grubb's rich vocals sound as powerful as ever. For those of you eternally searching for a smoky, psych-tinged reverie in which you can
lose yourself, here’s the door. We’re right behind you.
The song is taken from the forthcoming Alternative
F̷acts: A Shoegaze
Resistance Compilation, which is set for release on March 17, 2017 via DKFM. The compilation
features a top tier collective of shoegaze and dream pop artists taking a stand against the tyranny we're all facing in our current political reality. All proceeds from this compilation will be split evenly
between Planned Parenthood and the A.C.L.U.
08 March 2017
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