(label)
26 June 2006 (released)
03 July 2006
Guitars swoon, jangle and reach heights not heard since shoegazing bands of the 90's last stepped onto their effects pedals. The comparisons with the early 90's indie kings such as My Bloody Valentine, Ride and Swervedriver are obvious. There are
even times when I couldn't help but think that I might even have heard some of the songs before.
That said, their use of an acoustic guitar does head them off on a different tangent at times, towards Black Rebel Motorcycle Club territory.... Ok, enough of the comparisons, though it would be unprofessional not to mention them.
Maybe it's because I grew up listening to the aforementioned influences, that I took an instant liking to the album. There aren't enough bands out there that sound as if they grew up listening to cool music. Over the last few years, you could be forgiven for thinking that most bands grew up listening to Duran Duran and then stopped listening to anything since. I was beginning to think that I was the only person who still had a love of shoegazing bands, until I heard Shawows Evolve.
It's a very American sounding album, even though the English music scene has played a major part in it's shaping. And all of this from 5 Australians, who wouldn't be seen dead in a WalkAbout bar. And no, they aren't a girl band, as I've heard been
mentioned. There's one girl, Aimee Nash. A lovely girl, with a voice to match. The use of her voice adds a depth to the vocals. Laid out in layers as thick as the guitars swirling around in the backfround, especially noteable on the title track,
Shadows Evolve, and recent single, Run for Our Lives.
There is also a softer side to this album, where the acoustic guitar comes out and the effects pedals are packed away, such as on the appropriately titled Interlude. This is an album, that can be played in its entirety from start to finish, as it
journeys up and down its mountains of guitars.
Not many bands release an album as rich and lush as this one, never mind on their debut. It makes me wonder how they are going to top this. Can't wait to hear them try!
