If you count this heavy and slow, multi-layered shoegaze without much of the noise pop/post-punk influences as a separate genre, it's clear that Slow Crush is one of the biggest names here at the moment. The Belgian outfit debuted three years ago with the spectacular Aurora and now it's time for a perfect follow-up with the ethereal bliss on Hush.
You could crack a joke saying that at first there's Slowdive and then there's Slow Crush, but in fact, you wouldn't be very far from the truth. The Belgian band couldn't hide their inspirations taken from the British icons. The atmosphere of their music is very similar, it is very close as far as the pace, the warmth, the vocals are concerned. There's little place for lively tunes here, it is this kind of music to dance in your mind to. The heavy sounds of guitars are so slow that they often sound like a heavy kind of ambient music, if it even makes sense; on the other hand, there are moments of fast-paced ethereal fun (Swoon is the perfect example here), but it's still not a happy-go-lucky noise pop - it's so much more. No wonder that the subtle melodies and heavy music are called "radiating moonlit warmth through a haze of abrasive whirling layered guitars".
The ridiculously airy atmosphere is partly achieved due to the vocals by Isa Holliday - they often sound more like a ASMR-type whispers or lullabies sung in bed. Those rather dark and sad vibes that rule over the whole release, may be the results of the trying times the artists had to come through during the pandemics (that included changing lineup and problems with labels). But they seem to be over with the problems and in 2022, the band is going to have another big tour all over the world, including two gigs in Poland, which I'm so excited for.
Hush costs 9.99 GBP.
Check: Hush
Country: Belgium
Genre: heavy shoegaze
Label: Church Road Records
