Worthing UK shoegazers, Air Formation, released their self-titled sixth album in April. They are not a band I followed in their early days, but if this recent material is any indication of what came before, I was missing out. The band consists of Matt Bartram (guitars & vocals), Ben Pierce (bass), James Harrison (drums), Ian Sheridan (guitar), and Richard Parks (keyboards).
This is a magnificent release. It hits all the shoegaze sweet spots, and the droning musical backdrop and subdued vocals are moody and majestic all at once. I find myself playing opening track ‘Pressure Drop’ on repeat. It is mesmerising and has aspects I find thrilling, reminding one of all the best aspects of this genre. ‘Only So Much Light’ follows in similar fashion, a bit of sun-splashed ‘gaze with ethereal droplets dappling the waves of sound. I love the gentle cadence of the drums on this track as well. ‘Finding Gravity’ veers slightly into post-punk, shaded with darker tones but maintaining a shoegaze structure. They pull off the trick they used on ‘Pressure Drop’ where they just thrown down this stunning melodic interlude. Gorgeous! Next is ‘I Don’t Want To Talk’, another winning tune, caressed by Matt’s somber voice as well as a beautiful arrangement.
‘Crashing Out’ opens the second side, and makes me believe these guys could pull off post rock without a hitch. They create sterling instrumental passages, though the vocals are equally fine work. ‘The Day After Day’ is shorter, and could be offered up as a single. It sure is pretty, and Matt’s voice comes forward in the mix. ‘Sparks Die’ is sublime, and I am once again struck by this group’s ability to create these delectable shoegaze confections that somehow sound calming and cool, despite the restrained fury of the guitars. The coda is ‘The Final Wave’ and it is a fine sendoff on a record chock full of sonic gems. Highly recommended!
