Calamity is the new EP from Toronto’s Fine Motor Control. Not to be confused with the drum/bass “new grunge” outfit of the same name also from Toronto circa 2004-2007. This band is actually the fifth collaboration between Vello Verder andRead more…
Playlist Monday: Nu-Gaze
The shoegaze revival has been in full force for a number of years now. I’ve been hearing other fun terms like nu-gaze and doomgaze. Today’s playlist consists of a handful of noisy bands that may or may not be fascinatedRead more…
Ride – Nowhere
Ride announced yesterday that they are reforming and going on tour in 2015. The timing of it is excellent with Andy Bell’s commitments to Beady Eye completed now that the band is kaput. There’s been a parade of reformed shoegazeRead more…
No Joy – Wait To Pleasure
The shoegaze revival thing can feel really played out at times. There seems to be no shortage of bands willing to adopt the pattern of layering waves of distortion over barely decipherable vocals oohing and aahing. It can be hardRead more…
HSY – S/T
HSY’s self-titled EP is a dissonant, grumbling mass of noise. The production values are on the lo-fi end of the spectrum and the howling, atonal vocals sound like they were recorded inside a tunnel. It’s a throwback sound. An uglier,Read more…
Deafheaven / No Joy / Indian Handcrafts – Live
Last Friday the Opera House hosted an absolutely stacked line-up of black metal/shoegaze hybrid Deafheaven, nugazers No Joy and stoner-metal duo Indian Handcrafts. The venue was packed with metalheads and hipsters mostly clad in black, with the younger demographic sportingRead more…
SIANspheric – The Owl
Last week I wrote about Swervedriver’s new single “Deep Wound.” I should’ve known SIANspheric wouldn’t be far behind with a 7″ of their own in “The Owl”. (SIANspheric and Swervedriver frontman Adam Franklin shared a double-EP compilation back in 2003).Read more…
Swervedriver – Deep Wound
The last release of new material from psych/shoegaze band Swervedriver was all the way back in 1998 with “99th Dream”. A decade and a half later they’ve resurfaced with a new single in “Deep Wound”. Though it hasn’t been completelyRead more…
Ringo Deathstarr – God’s Dream
Stop me if you’ve heard this one before. Ringo Deathstarr packs an assortment of hazy melodies buried under layers of swirling guitars and hypnotic drum patterns. The My Bloody Valentine influence is apparent. Elliott Frazier is playing the part ofRead more…