This release (out March 4th) is courtesy of Relapse records.
Now, a lot of people are probably on the fence about shoegaze - hell, many people probably have not the faintest clue what shoegaze even is. Well, for those amongst us who are privy to what it is, and how it stands out enough to be called a genre of rock, let's just consider why it may polarize listeners.
It's the heavily distorted, yet melancholic wailing guitars that permeate almost the entire aural experience. In effect, much of the material that can be considered shoegaze resembles what the ambient genre would be like if it were rock-based instead of electronica based. Instead of engineering and mixing tables, sampling and electronic-based instruments, you'd use guitars, drums, bass, and often vocal tracks. Cerebral yet primal.
What the hell does all that have to do with Nothing's upcoming release, Guilty of Everything? Well, this is a remarkable shoegaze release. As I stream the album, with its droning yet consistent quality (such is the magic of shoegaze, which allows for more atmospheric, drawn-out experiences compared to the chaotic stops & turns of hardcore and metalcore), I find myself enamored with all of the sounds contained within. There's nothing like listening to an album that draws you in and doesn't let go until it is all over, and you want to listen again. That's this album in a nutshell.
The album is streaming, entirely free, on NPR.org's streaming service. The link is to be found above. If you've not yet given it a click, then please do so. It'll dazzle you like it is dazzling me (not sure what track I currently am on, given that I chose to stream the entire album, which is a 38+ minute endeavor). Oh, and it releases on March 4th via Relapse records, just so you can consider clunking your hard-earned money into rewarding these guys for their artistry.
