I’m about a week behind posting this one, so if you read any other blogs you’ve probably already heard it. But it’s so good I couldn’t let it slip past without any comment.
23 – Blonde Redhead
There’s a lot of good shoegaze-post-rock going around these days, but there isn’t much that matches up to this track. Blonde Redhead has been around for a while, often talked about as the shoegaze answer to Sonic Youth, but based on all accounts (and the low-sound-quality leaks that have filtered out), their newest record 23 (due out April 10) is their crowning achievement.
It’s softer and more ethereal, with more of a pop feel. But don’t let any of that fool you, they can also overpower you with sound as well as anyone. They just also realize that sometimes small variations on a single theme are more effective at ratcheting up the tension than trying to create a “big” sound. Just check out the section starting around 4 minutes, It doesn’t sound that different from the rest, but after all that buildup, a few light touches here and there are more than enough to get you all hot and bothered.