Who'd have thought that John Travolta's famous Oscar night flub of Idina Menzel's name would inspire the name of one of the best shoegaze bands in years? Adele Dazeem are dropping their new EP on Friday and it's got tunes just as good as their recent single. Folks who pray at the feet of Swervedriver, or who clutch the first two Ride EP's to their chest, will likely love the material on Metanoia.
"Misère" kicks things off. The now-familiar churn of the cut leading into more selections with the same power. "Deep Sea Hand" is a bit darker, the vocals buried in the mix, and the effect nearly goth as the guitars crush any hope of escape. Praise to producer Rory Atwell for the work achieving that mix. Elsewhere, "Mezanin" recalls the best, most spacious and space-y explorations of pioneers The Telescopes, while the title cut closes Metanoia with elegant dissolution. This is a tune to get lost in, with the eddying rhythms pushing the fragments of a melody amid guitar drone and squall. How can you not love something like this?
I'm hoping that Adele Dazeem make a full-length record in the new year. Their style of shoegaze is one full of layers, with the guitar effects in service of a whole mood. Metanoia is as good as some of the best stuff from all the bands you grew up on, and an indication of newcomers, along with label-mates Whitelands, who've got the same jones for this kind of music.
Metanoia by Adele Dazeem is out now via Sonic Cathedral. More details below.
[Photo: Sonic Cathedral]