“Destroy Yrself” by Kindling

Kindling by Reid Haithcock Photography https://www.facebook.com/ReidHaithcockphotography/

Kindling are from Easthampton Massachusetts and “Destroy Yrself” is from their album “Hush” released in November 2017.

Discovered via a reference on the Norman Records mini-review of Bad Sav’s forthcoming album, Kindling are more in the My Bloody Valentine/ Lush/ early Slowdive zone of heavy shoegaze rock than the aforementioned Dunedin trio. But this song – and in fact the whole album – is top shelf immersive noise, with an agreeably dense atmosphere of reverb-bonded layered guitars and bass surrounding its molten core.

Despite – or perhaps because of – the relatively short-lived initial period of so-called ‘shoegaze’ rock from the late 1980s to early 1990s, it is a genre than has inspired a substantial ‘New Wave’ of bands in the 2010s, to continue the exploration of noise+melody.

“Placid” by Kairi

Above Port Chalmers looking towards Dunedin [photo by PopLib]

Here’s a slice of something beautiful & a little wonderful and apparently from Dunedin:

“Placid” is a track from an artist or band identifying themselves as Kairi. There’s no other information other than “Dunedin, New Zealand” and the tags “ambient” and “Dunedin”.

Right now it’s perfect to not have any more information. I can just enjoy it for what it is. Which is 4 minutes 30 seconds of brilliantly understated and atmospheric psychedelic chamber-pop.

“Placid” twists and weaves in a dreamy but mathematical pattern of repetition and melodic reward. It infiltrates the memory synapses of the brain in a disturbingly rapid and enduring fashion.

‘Double Act’ by Day Ravies

Day Ravies – photo from: http://www.tonedeaf.com.au/347075/day-ravies.htm

Day 6 of a series of Australian-themed posts for June. Sydney shoegaze-pop band Day Ravies released the brightly coloured Tussle’ LP late last year on the ever reliable Sydney label Popfrenzy. I like it a lot. This song ‘Double Act’ is close to perfect:

For those familiar with UK shoegaze in the early 90s this will at times be familiar territory (in a good way – I’m reminded mostly of early Lush and Ride at times).

There’s also some equally glorious not-exactly-shoegaze indie-pop gems on the album too. The vocals are pretty well buried in the mix here on ‘Double Act’ and throughout the album. Sometimes it serves the overall hazy, washed out effect, but it mostly just adds distance to some songs which feel like they could become even better friends if only they would welcome you in a bit more.