Fawning - Illusions of Control (2021)

I'm kind of surprised that the long play debut album from the American Fawning isn't hyped that much as it deserves. I remember discovering their EP Too Late and how big it sounded to me back in 2019. Now we can finally listen to more of their fascinating take on shoegaze on Illusions of Control.

The duo Cheyenne Avant (known from Night School) and Devin Nunes (Whirr) make music that strikes with the ethereal atmosphere from the very first seconds of the intro in At Fault. Traditionally for dream pop projects, it is achieved by the exceptionally subtle and airy vocals, it's the kind that conveys mostly atmosphere and emotions and less so the melodies. And this is the best kind. It is accompanied by slow-paced music with the main roles reserved for synthesizer sounds blending into electronic haze that fills the space all over the place.

The songs here have a very melancholic flavour, especially for this kind of electronic dream pop genre. Although the synths can be pretty lively, the overall sadness of the release simply brings it down and drowns with melancholy (especially when joined by these weirdly nostalgic saxophone sounds in Nothing Matters). It is further underlined by beautiful ambient-like passages between the songs and in the final track, and even if there are livelier tracks here (like You're Not One to Cry most notably), I would say it's one of the saddest albums I heard this year.

Illusions of Control costs 7 USD.

Fawning - Too Late (2019) EN

Check: Linger

Country: California, US

Genre: synthwave dream pop

Label: Graveface Records & Curiosities

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Fawning - Too Late (2019) PL

Fawning to duet Cheyenne Avant (Night School) i Devin Nunes grający razem z Eddiem Salgado i tworzący coś określane jako goth'y dream pop. Brzmi dobrze? I jest, usłyszeć to można na debiutanckiej EP-ce Too Late.

Na profilu wydawcy, Graveface Records, czytamy, że muzyka zespołu jest "w równym stopniu czysta i piękna a czasem i skrajnie odrażająca". Krótką płytę otwierają kojące warstwy syntezatorów i bardzo przyjemny temat muzyczny. Oraz nadzwyczaj eteryczny, tańczący na granicy słyszalności wokal Avant. Down with Me jest jednak tylko klimatyczną przygrywką. Ciut większe tempo, głównie dzięki perkusyjnym dźwiękom, urokliwa melodia i chórki zaczynają się w świetnym tytułowym Too Late.

Mroczniej, ale tez spokojniej robi się na powrót w Awake at Night, gdzie rytm wybija miękka perkusja, a całość tonie w przytulnych basach. Nic dziwnego, że zespół przyznaje się do inspiracji takimi artystami jak Cocteau Twins, Cranes czy Julee Cruise.

Too Late kosztuje 17 złotych (4 USD).

Sprawdź: Too Late

Kraj: Kalifornia, US

Szufladka: synth dream pop

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Fawning - Too Late (2019) EN

Fawning is a duet Cheyenne Avant (Night School) and Devin Nunes playing together with Eddie Salgado and creating something that's described as goth'y dream pop. Sounds good? And it really is, you can check it out on the debut EP called Too Late.

On the label, Graveface Records, 's profile you can read that the band's music is "equal parts serene and beautiful and at times borderline creepy". The short album is opened with the soothing layers of synth and a very pleasant music theme. Also with the uber airy, dancing on the borders of audibility Avant's vocal. Down with Me makes only an atmospheric intro. Slightly higher pace, mostly due to the drumming section, charming melody and backing vocals begin in the great title track Too Late.

Darker, but also more peaceful becomes again in Awake at Night in which the pace is measured by the soft drums and the whole thing is drowned in cosy basses. No wonder the band admits to inspirations for artists such as Cocteau Twins, Cranes or Julee Cruise.

Too Late costs 4 USD.

Check: Too Late

Country: California, US

Genre: synth dream pop

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