Writing about music in lieu of human interaction
Old Soul Dies Young is a shoegaze/dream-pop outfit out of Denver, Colorado, self-described as an "anime love story without a happy ending." The group's new EP, Yandere, is a six-song whirlwind of emotions, vacillating between lovestruck rapture and suicidal despair. "Yuno," the EP's closing track, splits the difference, closing the journey with a sense of … Continue reading Stare At Your Shoes-Old Soul Dies Young-Yuno
Edgar Allen Poe's satirical short story, "Mellonta Tauta," begins with the line, "Now, my dear friend--now, for your sins, you are to suffer the infliction of a long gossiping letter." For our sins, underrated Argentinian group Mellonta Tauta inflicts upon us pillowy dream-pop with the flanger turned up to 11. A welcome "punishment" for any … Continue reading Stare At Your Shoes-Mellonta Tauta-Estrella
Delilah Fang is a Minneapolis, MN dream-pop quintet that formed, recorded an album, and broke up within the span of a few months. Worry not, the split was amicable and preordained; guitarist and singer Betty Taylor knew from the beginning that she'd be leaving town at the end of August. Lonely Once Too is the … Continue reading Daily Discovery-Delilah Fang-Trespasser
Isobella were a shoegaze group that formed in Tampa, FL in the late 90's; the band's frosty ballads, imbued with a stately sense of grandeur, do not reflect their subtropical origins. One such ballad, "Olive" is the opener to Isobella's 2001 release, A 24 Syllable Haiku. Haikus usually have 17 syllables total (5, 7, 5), … Continue reading Stare At Your Shoes-Isobella-Olive
Echo Lake is a four-piece indie outfit from London, active since 2010. "Waves" from the band's 2015 album Era, charges forward for six and a half minutes on the strength of brawny guitar and driving drums. Thom Hill's production flourishes include organ-like synth tones and dissonant walls of sound that come crashing through like a … Continue reading Stare At Your Shoes-Echo Lake-Waves
The Stargazer Lilies are a Pennsylvania shoegaze duo comprising Kim Field and John Ceparano, both formerly of the band Soundpool. Their 2016 album Door To The Sun is opened by "Golden Key" (pun semi-intended), a languid, drifting ballad featuring two layers of guitar, one earthily acoustic and the other plied with enough effects to make … Continue reading Stare At Your Shoes-The Stargazer Lilies-Golden Key
Brightblack Morning Light is a Northern California freak-folk duo whose members have done such hippyish things as lived in a chicken coop, recorded using solar power, and organized amplifier-free music festivals. Their 2006 self-titled album contains a series of subdued, psychedelic jams full of hazy keyboard, weeping slide guitar, and ambling percussion. Nathan Shineywater and … Continue reading Stare At Your Shoes-Brightblack Morning Light-All We Have Broken Shines
Track from the Norwegian dream-pop trio's 1989 album Birds of Passage. Definitely not shoegaze, this one is a crystalline, cinematic odyssey led by the operatic vocals of Anneli Drecker. "Bel canto" means "beautiful singing" in Italian. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ujHhbEYTPQ
Track from the classic English shoegaze band's 1992 album Spooky. Listen for the faded, ghostly aesthetic and for the intertwining vocals of guitarists Miki Berenyi and Emma Anderson. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fECE5FGNaGI
Today's find is kind of bittersweet; Soft Gondola, a Pittsburgh band that made hazy, melancholy pop music, just played their final show a few weeks ago. However, they did release a self-titled album before hanging it up. "The Bite," one of the standout tracks from Soft Gondola, combines motorik drums with swirling, atmospheric washes of … Continue reading Daily Discovery-Soft Gondola-The Bite
Bored In Pittsburgh 