-=- SHGZ -=-
* Shoegaze * Indie * Post-Rock * Grunge * Dream Pop * Psych-Rock * Ethereal *
ARTIST..: 93MillionMilesFromTheSun
ALBUM...: Why Do We Fall Apart
GENRE...: Indie
STYLE...: Shoegaze
YEAR....: 2021
LABEL...: White Light Recordings
COUNTRY.: UK
PLACE...: Doncaster, England
ENCODER.: FLAC 1.3.1 -8 -V
BITRATE.: 1010kbps avg
QUALITY.: 44.1kHz / 2 channels
SOURCE..: CDR
TRACKS..: 11
SIZE....: 480.79 MB
URL..: http://www.facebook.com/93MillionMilesFromTheSun/
- TRACKLIST
1 Hold My Breath 6:30
2 All Am Now 5:13
3 Everything Undone 5:09
4 Window Ledge 4:59
5 The View From Woodhead 5:12
6 How I Feel 6:07
7 If You Wonder 7:04
8 Now Or Yesterday 6:29
9 I'll Never Know 5:58
10 We Are Left Behind 5:14
11 Everything Goes Wrong In The End 8:25
Total Playtime: 66:20
Nick Noble, founder of 93millionmilesfromthesun, is no newcomer to the
shoegaze scene. He started writing in 2007 and since that time has
established a distinct sound that incorporates all the hazy, reverberating,
chorus sounds of this genre.
With seven LPs, 15 EPs and two singles under his belt, he is releasing his
eighth full-length album on Friday, April 23 on Bandcamp. It will be
available in digital and CD formats. With only 100 copies of the limited
edition CD available, fans should plan on preordering now.
The new album, entitled ôWhy Do We Fall Apart,ö explores a theme that many of
us can relate to: what itÆs been like to survive in a pandemic that forced
people to stay apart, lose jobs, get sick, lose loved ones, and a general
negative impact on mental health. Located in Doncaster, England, the musician
wrote and recorded all 11 songs by himself in his home studio.
While it is not usual for him to do most of the writing himself due to the
fact that bandmates Jase Burns (drums) and Kenno (real name Andrew Kennovan,
bass) are spread apart, making it hard to get together, they have
collaborated recording parts independently and sending them back and forth on
other albums.
*
DKFM:
DoncasterÆs 93MillionMilesFromTheSun have been responsible for some of the
most effervescent sounds of recent years. The self-titled debut (2008) and
Northern Sky (2011) brought them to our ears here at DKFM, and we have been
enthralled by their sonic explorations ever since.
Nick Noble, founder of the band, now returns with his latest creation, Why Do
We Fall Apart, his eighth full-album release.
As usual, Noble has penned all the tracks, and with lockdown and distance an
issue, he also recorded all the instruments and did all the mixing. This is
testament to the immense talent this insanely humble guy has.
My DKFM sister Deborah Sexton interviewed Noble for The Velvet Hum Radio
Show, which aired Thursday, April 22 with the official release on Friday,
April 23. She delved into the making of the album and all things
93MillionMilesFromTheSun. If you missed out, you can soon catch it on
Mixcloud on the DKFM Select page. It is episode #38.
In the meantime, letÆs hit play and get this review underway.
The album begins on the long, sultry intro to ôHold My Breath.ö This is
classic 93MillionMilesFromTheSun. NobleÆs vocals ride the waves of washing
guitar and steady, pulsing bass and drums. ItÆs a stunning introduction, and
I canÆt wait to hear whatÆs next.
The enigmatically titled ôAll Am Nowö opens with a wailing guitar riff
lifting this song into a different head space from the previous one. Noble
has a knack for a chorus. I love how the lead guitar riff double times into a
solid note as if vibrating in place. This has single written all over it!
We head into darker territory with ôEverything Undoneö next. This one could
easily have been pulled from a Robert Smith song book. ItÆs that good. I
adore The Cure and to hear those chord changes and guitar tones used so
skilfully made me happy. Noble takes it and makes it his own. Just stunning.
In contrast, the instrumental ôWindow Ledgeö has a summery, light, airy feel.
The gorgeous overlapping glide guitar lifts the listener to a state of
euphoria. You can almost feel the sunshine on your face while soaking up its
textured sounds. It is bliss.
The eerie echoes of feedback lead us into the driving rhythm of ôThe View
From Woodhead.ö This is a song for a big stage. Noble taps into the Oxford
sound for this barnstormer. The Ride influence is there in the vocal style
and rhythm guitar, and he contrasts that with a Guthrie-esque lead guitar
changing the tone of the song making it 100% 93MillionMilesFromTheSun.
ôHow I Feelö is the most densely vocal track of the album so far. Taking
things at a more sedate pace, Noble sounds like a man baring his soul. The
song moves like a ship in the fog, slow and deliberate. The acoustic outro is
a lovely, unexpected touch as well.
In ôIf You Wonderö I pick up early Boo RadleysÆ influence until we get to the
chorus. That is all Noble. ItÆs hooky and lifts the song to another level. He
has a knack of making you think a song is going one way and then moving off
in another.
ôNow or Yesterdayö taps into the same energy that powers ôThe View From
Woodhead.ö Its anthemic, epic nature is overwhelming and all consuming. You
melt into wave after wave of sonic goodness coming from the speakers. I lost
myself for its entire six-minute duration. ItÆs dark, dreamy and devastating.
Then we are taken straight into the chorus of my personal favorite ôIÆll
Never Know.ö The repeating riff hooks you in and holds your attention as
Noble explores his love for The Stone Roses. Much like before, while the
influence is there, the song is all his. When he sings ôWhere did you go,
IÆll never knowö I challenge you not to leap up and jump about as if you were
front and centre at a hometown gig. What a song.
As if to slowly bring us back down to earth, the instrumental ôWe Are Left
Behindö works its magic. Simultaneously euphoric and chilled, this track is
the perfect way to lead us toward the final song of the album.
The aptly named ôEverything Goes Wrong In The Endö brings the proceedings to
a too-soon conclusion. This is classic 93MillionMilesFromTheSun, with heavy
guitars, pulsing riffs and pounding drums. NobleÆs vocals really cut through
the mix making it feel more personal and somehow, like he is letting us get
close, just once.
The theme of love, loss and despair is eminent throughout this work; however,
and this is a big however, as a listener you donÆt feel despondent or lost at
all. In fact, IÆd go as far as to say itÆs the polar opposite.
Noble has crafted a cohesive collection of comforting and uplifting songs
weaving his magic deftly as he goes. ItÆs one of those albums that the more
you listen, the greater depth and hidden sounds you discover. It is a highly
rewarding experience you will savour for years to come.
-=- SHGZ -=-
-=-=-==-=-=-
Shoegaze
is a genre of alternative rock that
originated in the late 80s. The genre is very
difficult to define, and it is even more difficult to evaluate music
within it. Generally, the genre is characterized by its
shimmering vocals, reverberating guitars, and
textural distortion that create
a tranquil, opaque
feeling.
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