Gliding into London after a breathless week of shows across the UK (with special mention given by the band to Coventry’s Just Dropped In, a venue I NEED to visit), LA quintet Mo Dotti dissolved The Shacklewell Arms with their rapturously received shoegaze soundscapes. From the opening rip of debut album highlight Lucky Boy itContinue reading “Mo Dotti – The Shacklewell Arms, London”
Tag Archives: shoegaze
Farewell, Seablite…
There wasn’t a dry eye in the indie pop house last week as Bay Area underground icons Seablite announced their farewell show. Active since 2017, Seablite specialised in nineties inspired shoegaze and baggy fusions, shot through with unmistakable California cool. When they fully hit their stride across 2023’s epic Lemon Lights, they hit upon shimmeringContinue reading “Farewell, Seablite…”
for anyone and you: an interview with Mo Dotti…
Los Angeles based shoegaze collective Mo Dotti totally captured my heart when I caught them live at the 4 Star Theater on my recent visit to San Francisco. The band’s sound is truly a wonder, with blissed out melodies fighting for air amongst ocean deep chord changes and seismic, swirling feedback. With a stunning debutContinue reading “for anyone and you: an interview with Mo Dotti…”
heavymetalkids.uk is Bay Area bound…
I was totally blown away this week by the announcement of a stunning Dandy Boy Records showcase to welcome me on what will be my first visit to the Bay Area. Yes, after following the scene for some five years and covering it here for the last two and a bit, my wife Julia andContinue reading “heavymetalkids.uk is Bay Area bound…”
above me – s/t
The Oakland based DIY label Dandy Boy Records has long been my go to for the deepest of Bay Area underground cuts, and so it continues with this release from former Blue Ocean man Rick Altieri’s new solo project above me. Expanding on his former band’s experimental shoegaze soundscapes, above me’s self-titled debut incorporates drumContinue reading “above me – s/t”
Black Thumb – The Other Side
From seemingly out of nowhere comes this beautiful new track from Bay Area artist Colin Wilde’s DIY-psych project Black Thumb. Utilising a pandemic-era recording that had long been gathering dust, it was shared with Inna Showalter (Whitney’s Playland/Magic Fig) who contributed lyrics and a customarily breathtaking vocal. Beginning with Wilde’s plaintive acoustic guitar strum, TheContinue reading “Black Thumb – The Other Side”
The Moment of Nightfall and Tony Jay – Winter Dream
In recent months I have seen the band The Moment of Nightfall mentioned frequently by folk who really know their stuff, none more so than Bay Area fog pop auteur Michael Ramos (Tony Jay/Flowertown). Imagine my delight then to learn of this collaboration between the two, a true match made in some kind of glacialContinue reading “The Moment of Nightfall and Tony Jay – Winter Dream”
The Gabys – Colour Me Out
Arriving with the minimum of fuss and the hugest of hearts, mysterious UK lofi pop duo The Gabys mark their return with Colour Me Out, the lead track from their forthcoming third self-titled EP. Drifting past like morning (mourning?) clouds after the longest of nights before, Colour Me Out’s threadbare changes and fragile melodies soundContinue reading “The Gabys – Colour Me Out”
Ryann Gonsalves: A sense of Bay Area belonging…
Bay Area artist Ryann Gonsalves has been omnipresent on the underground independent scene this year as frontperson and key member of the bands Torrey and Aluminum. The full-hearted melodic gift that flows through both of these projects can also be explored in its starkest form across Ryann’s enchanting DIY solo album Ouch!, recently released viaContinue reading “Ryann Gonsalves: A sense of Bay Area belonging…”
Goodbye Wudaokou – Mirror Skies
Discovering the work of Manchester based DIY artist Mat Mills has been a constant source of real joy over the last few months. His songwriting blends lofi fuzz-laden indie/shoegaze with affecting electronic dreamscapes, giving his project Goodbye Wudaokou a unique flavour all of its own. Debut album Mirror Skies wears its heart unashamedly on itsContinue reading “Goodbye Wudaokou – Mirror Skies”
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