Austin, Texas shoegaze band Blushing was conceived in the summer of 2015, when Michelle Soto shared songs with her friend Christina Carmona. With Soto on guitar and Carmona on bass, the pair needed to complete the band’s lineup, and so called upon their spouses (Jacob Soto on drums and Noe Carmona on guitar) to form a quartet. After a series of shorter releases over the last few years, Blushing are about to release their debut full-length, out tomorrow on Wallflower Records and Hands And Moment.
Following in the footsteps of genre heavyweights My Bloody Valentine and Cocteau Twins, Blushing make brooding shoegaze, melodic and texturally rich soundscapes that are capable of erupting into walls of cathartic noise. This is apparent from opener ‘So Many’, which starts in a near-whisper, a fog-laden dreamscape enveloped in a mysterious hush. But eventually this dreamy visage melts away and the track reveals itself as something physical and ominous, heavy guitar and a maelstrom of drums hinting at the considerable weight that sits just beneath the surface of Blushing’s brand of dream pop.
The band say the record tackles “the concept of navigating the forces of memory, self doubt, dreams and loss,” and perhaps this deep thematic basis sets them apart from other shoegaze outfits. Even the more accessible tracks, such as ‘Dream Merchants’ have an ominous edge, the jangly romanticism cut with an ominous atmosphere, some snarling presence that lies just out of sight.
The album was engineered and produced by Elliott Frazier of Ringo Deathstarr, and the many late nights as Frazier’s studio allowed Blushing to explore and experiment with genre, recording techniques, soundscape and arrangement, resulting in the unique sound that they can call their own. The album moves seamlessly from ethereal emotion to crushing power, sometimes draped in a staticky robe of shimmering fuzz and others raging with elemental force. There’s also an impressive sense of magnitude on display, songs such as ‘Sunshine’ and ‘Me With You’ illustrating the wide-screen nature of the band’s music, all soaring vocals and pummeled percussion.
Today we have the pleasure of streaming the album a day ahead of release. So click play in the player below and explore Blushing for yourself.
Blushing is out tomorrow (6/9) on Wallflower Records and Hands and Moment. You can also get it from the Blushing Bandcamp page.
