It's a gloomy day - nothing but gray skies and pouring rain outside - so I'm staying in and listening to music on my headphones. One record in particular that's made me sit up and take notice is "Violet," the new LP from neo-shoegaze band Boy In Static. This band manages to be dense and ambient, combining My Bloody Valentine-like wall of sound with electronic touches, without ever losing a sense of melody or becoming inaccessable.
The vocals are also highly affecting - they're subdued in the mix but very emotional, touching on heartache and lost love. Sample lyrics: "Wake up, wake up. I'm still afraid to die without grace," delivered with a ghostly whisper. Fantastic.
Standout tracks include "Where It Ends," "Tear Down," "Without Grace," and the 7-minute opus "Immortal." Highly recommended for fans of My Bloody Valentine, M83, Jatun, Amusement Parks On Fire, and Belong.
If you have younger siblings or cousins who are annoyingly stuck on this whole emo thing, Boy in Static would actually be a good band to use to ease them over back to the light.