More than capturing this mood, the repeated refrain which closes ‘Blame’ acts as a kind of pledge for the rest of the record. “Stick around, find out.” A lure, a promise. Because Possessions is not some nostalgic pastiche or cheap copy. It is a continuation of a conversation which started over thirty years ago. A clear message that the styles and sounds established then are not only persevering but capable of innovation. Shoegaze is alive and kicking. Blushing are here to prove it.

We took the opportunity to ask Blushing a few questions, so read on below to find out more about their love of nineties shoegaze and the honour of working with your heroes.

How does it feel to have a new record out in the world?

Amazing. We have to keep reminding ourselves that for everyone else this is the first time they are hearing these songs. We’ve had them in our lives for over two years and so for them to finally be out in the world feels like such a huge accomplishment. It’s a milestone we’ve been looking forward to for a very long time so we are thrilled the time has come.

I’m interested in the balance between lightness and weight on the record. There seems a coexistence between the soaring dreaminess and heavy textures of the songs, as though neither could exist without the other. Could you talk a little about this sound, and how it relates to the themes of the album?

The lightness and weight of the album seems to be directly connected to our experience when we were creating and recording it. It was (and still is) heavy times. There was an overall sense of chaos and despair in the world which can certainly be felt in the album but we also didn’t want to lean into that theme too much, instead choosing to go to the opposite direction with a few sparkling, shimmering, pop choruses. I think we are happiest with our sound when it’s able to exist in both of these spaces.

Collaboration seems an important part of Possessions, from Miki Berenyi’s appearance on ‘Blame’ to Ride’s Mark Gardener mixing and mastering the songs. Why did you look beyond the band this time around and how do you think these outside influences shaped the album?

Who wouldn’t want to collaborate with their idols! Our partnership with Miki really came about unexpectedly, we had no preconceived notion that she would have any interest in collaboration but to our surprise she was on board and enthusiastic to join in. Once we started working with her on ‘Blame’ it gave the band a renewed sense of energy and drive during the rest of the lengthy recording process. To get her approval and have such a respected artist tell us how much she liked the song and then return a stellar contribution gave us the confidence we needed to push ourselves even further for the rest of the recording process.

We had known about Mark’s OX4 Sound studio for a while and of course are huge fans of Ride, so we decided to reach out and see if he would be interested in mastering the album. We felt confident he would understand the overall sound we were wanting to achieve. He was excited to come on board and was really easy to work with. When we were recording ‘The Fires’ we just felt the song had a different vibe and there was something about it that Mark could bring out in the mix. So we asked if he would like to do the mixing work on ‘The Fires’ and he was happy to oblige. Sure enough both the mixing of that song and the overall mastering came out incredible.

We are really pleased with the entire album as a whole and another huge factor for that is teaming up again with Elliott Frazier, who also engineered and produced our last album. He understands the sound we want so well and knows exactly what to do to achieve that sound. He also just has great ideas. Some seem really wacky at first and then once executed end up becoming our favorite part of the song.

Even beyond Berenyi’s influence, there’s a palpable nineties feel to the songs, one which feels very much part of a wider turn back toward that decade. What is it about that period of shoegaze and dream pop that is so appealing? And, more generally, what exactly do the nineties represent for you?

I think music in the nineties but more specifically shoegaze and dreampop at that time represented a lighter, less serious, uncomplicated place to just get lost in. There was some heavy stuff going on at the time just like now and some music is made to address those things and some music is made to escape them. Both are extremely valuable. I think people turn to music as a way to comfort or distract and what better way to do that than with a warm fuzzy blanket of sonic texture or the soaring romantic voice of Harriet Wheeler. The nineties represent optimism and playfulness.

Finally, if a tweet inspired the collaboration for this album, let’s try and repeat the positive manifestation. Who’s next on your bucket list?

Haha, lets go ahead and manifest a future tour with The Smashing Pumpkins.

Possessions is out now via Kanine Record and you can get it from the Blushing Bandcamp page.

The post Blushing – Possessions appeared first on Various Small Flames.

Blushing have now signed to Kanine Records and announced a new album, Possessions, which is due out early next year. In production since the release of the last record in 2019, the album is the product of an eventful gestation period, slowly growing in fits and starts, interrupted periodically by new births, freak winter blackouts and, of course, the global pandemic. What emerged was something that still sounds characteristically Blushing, but also different in many small aspects. A record the press release describes as “heavier in some ways and lighter in others […] embracing the spectrum of life and relationships while understanding the need for escape, whimsy and that dirty word, pop.”

In anticipation, the band have unveiled the lead single, ‘Blame’. The song features a very special guest in Miki Berenyi of UK shoegaze legends Lush, who was alerted to Blushing after they covered ‘Out of Control’. Berenyi’s influence, along with that of Mark Gardener (Ride) and Elliot Frazier (Ringo Deathstarr) who mastered and produced the album respectively, roots the single firmly in the hazy shimmer of the early nineties. A lush and immersive soundscape which invites the listener to submit to its ambiguous charms. As the repeated refrain at the end of the song suggests, “stick around, find out.”

The song comes complete with a surreal video that proves the perfect accompaniment, so check it out below:

Possessions will be released on 18th February via Kanine Records and you can pre-order it now from the Blushing Bandcamp page.

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Blood Warrior – Wooden Shade
Rosie Tucker – How Sad, How Lovely (Connie Converse cover)
Fran – Company
JAYA – Learn To Swim
Taylor Hamilton – What Is Real?
Carver Baronda – If Nothing Else Comes Along
Rose Dorn – Deathwish
Milly – Crazy Horse
Guidon Bear – Washing Machine
Joey Nebulous – Pride Month
Dorio – Shortcuts
Special Friend – Before
Sarah Pagé – Lithium Taper
Old Amica – Condensation
Blushing – Dream Merchants
Patient Hands – Stasis
Bryce Kepner – Chances
Jake Bellissimo – why fit? (Jordaan Mason cover)

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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.

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A new volume will be posted every few weeks and will offer a collection of really great songs that we’re determined not to let slip past our radar.

Blushing – Weak 

Working out of Austin, Texas, Blushing is a quartet made up of two husband and wife couples that make a shimmering brand of shoegaze that stokes the flames of nostalgia while pushing ahead into new territory. With the band set to release a new EP, Weak, they’ve unveiled the title track as a single to whet our appetites. The track, which nods at forebears such My Bloody Valentine and Slowdive as well as contemporaries like Pains of Being Pure At Heart, weaves a gauzy atmosphere and feedback and reverb, though the poppy vocals are also allowed to bob to the surface.

Check out the video below, which was directed, filmed and edited by drummer Jake Soto with help from Eddie Chavez.

Weak is to be released via Austin Town Hall Records on the 26th January, 2018, and you can pre-order it from Bandcamp.

Amparo – Ruby

Amparo is the project of Arizona’s Lela Amparo, who is due to release their debut EP, Rains, later this week, the first ever release on label Taabiir. The first single from the record, ‘Ruby’ combines sombre piano, sparse guitar and minimal spoken samples to form something that sounds moving and elegiac. The track was inspired by the rhythms of the natural world, as Amparo explains. “This past summer I spent time in Gothenburg, Sweden surrounding myself with the nearby woods. The original intention was to continue crafting electronic music, however after a friend loaned me his guitar, the outcome was entirely different. Over the course of two days, I sat down and began to sketch out guitar hooks and loops, which would eventually transpire into this EP.”

Rains is due for release on the 10th of December via Taabiir.

Veronica Bianqui – Victim

Multi-instrumentalist Veronica Bianqui makes music inspired a variety of sources, melding the 60s pop with classic soul and finishing off with the rough edges of garage rock. While her debut album is not scheduled for release until 2018, new single, ‘Victim’, gives a good insight in her sound and aesthetic. Bianqui’s sister died young after struggling with drug use, and the song plays as an attempt to prevent such tragedies, imploring those struggling addiction to find the strength to change and live. As such, ‘Victim’ is about breaking patterns of self-victimization in order to heal and grow, maintaining an upbeat, positive vibe despite the grave matter at hand.

‘Victim’ is available now from Veronica Bianqui’s Bandcamp page.. All of the proceeds are being donated to the Harm Reduction Coalition, who fight to promote the health and dignity of individuals and communities impacted by drug use.

Lavender Child – Happy Illusions

Based in Toronto, Canada, Lavender Child makes what they describe as “ethereal dreamscapes” intended to “inspire listeners to reconnect with nature, community, and themselves.” The result is something pitched halfway between indie pop and ambient, taking equal inspiration from Grouper, Julianna Barwick and Sharon van Etten. The lead single from a new EP, Reflections, ‘Happy Illusions’ demonstrates the vivid, dream-like soundscapes that Lavender Child conjures, evoking not only a sense of wilderness but also a rich inner life too, as though the interior and exterior are merged into one soaring fabric.

Lavender Child‘s EP, Reflections, is out on the 1st December.

1971 – Anxiety (In The Depths Of Northwestern Ontario)

Cameron Glen Cranston, bassist and founding member of 1971, very sadly died earlier this year aged just 25. The band have called it a day in response, but have decided to release their final two recordings as a cassette single, No Matter Where You Go, There You Are.

One of those tracks, ‘Anxiety (in the Depths of Northwestern Ontario)’ was written for Cranston back in 2016, during a very difficult period before his death. We’re glad we have ‘his’ song,” the band told Exclaim! “even though it’s hard to listen to sometimes.”

The song deals in the kind of sparse and expansive Canadian indie rock that will appeal to fans of Wintersleep or Summering, the pain and emotion that inspired it spiking in punky yelps during the chorus, and whipping into a blizzard of squealing guitar and pounded drums for the finale.

No Matter Where You Go, There You Are is out Dec 1st and available via the 1971 Bandcamp page.

Joe Russell-Brown – Post-Youth Depression

Recorded on nothing but a laptop and cheap microphone in his grandmother’s bungalow, Joe Russell-Brown’s debut EP Post-Youth Depression manages a surprising anthemic richness to accompany what is still an undoubtledly lo-fi sound. The title track is the perfect example of this, coming off as a jagged celebration of times gone by, detailing the facets of teenage years in boring towns that become suddenly beautiful in hindsight.

Post-Youth Depression is out now via Warren Records and you can grab it from Bandcamp.

Bryde – Desire

Bryde is the recording project of Pembrokeshire native Sarah Howells, who makes a dark blend of indie rock and pop that probes at the sinister underbelly of love and relationships. Following on from her debut EP, ‘Desire’ is a new single that furthers this style, serving as a critical, semi-disgusted look at a relationship gone wrong. According to Howells, the songs is about “our need for instant gratification, about desire’s addictive qualities and how they can make us behave,” charting the transforming or transmogrifying power of love and lust. Here, passion is not the beguiling force of Hollywood movies, rather an instinctive, near-animalistic force capable of destroying your sense of self and better judgement.

‘Desire’ was released earlier this month via Seahorse Music, and precedes Bryde’s debut album, pencilled in for next Spring.

Little Star – Providence

Starting out as the solo project of Portland, Oregon’s Daniel Byers, Little Star grew to include band members John Value and Julian Morris for 2016’s Being Close this year’s self-titled record. However, returning to his roots, Byers has taken to the studio as a solo act once more to record a new EP, Even in Dreams, that will be released next year on Good Cheer Records. Until then, we have ‘Providence’ as a taster, a track that combines an intimate bedroom pop with 80s college rock, with elements of shoegaze thrown in for good measure—resulting in a song that blends emotion and deadpan observation in a way similar to the excellent Friendship record we reviewed a few weeks ago.

Even in Dreams will be released on Hidden Bay Records and Good Cheer Records on the 12th January and you can pre-order it now. In the meantime, check out the Big Star Bandcamp page for their previous albums.

Allegra Krieger – So Glad You Said Goodbye

Based in New York, Allegra Krieger is a songwriter rooted in the traditions of folk, as much of a storyteller as a musician. Indeed, as with much of the best folk, her debut album Circles deals with themes of moving, coming out of a period spent “living on the road; in tents, caves, strangers couches.” As such, the record feels like a sincere attempt at communicating the experience of life, with situations and relationships always beginning and ending, the narrator left to navigate the constant change and subsequent heartache. ‘So Glad You Said Goodbye’ is a perfect example, pitched on the vague space between heartsick and wistful, finding solace or strength in the act of moving forwards.

Circles is out now and you can get it from the Allegra Kriger Bandcamp page.

Me and The Moon – Standing Still

After much praise for their debut single, ‘Get Away’ , Guildford trio Me and The Moon are back with a second single on My Little Empire Records. ‘Standing Still’ is an indie-pop song with shoegazey elements and near mathy influences, making for a track that’s both upbeat and melancholic in the best way possible.

The single is out via My Little Empire, and available now from Bandcamp.

Be sure to check out our previous Bright Sparks posts via the tag, and keep your eyes peeled in the opening weeks of 2018 for the next edition.

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