This has been playing non-stop for about 6 weeks. It’s playing right now. At first, the artists that invited shoegaze into the studio after a COVID-induced thaw wanted to push the genre’s limits (Yves Tumor), or fuse it with - I know this is shocking - electronica (Jane Remover). In strolls a Brooklyn outfit that remembers what Kevin Shields knew by instinct: melody counts for more than just bonus points. Melody, not style, hooks you into repeat listens. Melody, not technique, makes tracks like “I Thought You’d Change” and “Stump” feel effortless. Of course, very few works are totally original, so if you’re going to pick up influences, you could do far worse than the ringing guitars of Hüsker Dü. This is an unexpected gem, the best kind.
10
2023, Third Man