By: Rich Buley
Static Daydream | website | facebook | twitter | bandcamp |
Released on August 28, 2015 via Saint Marie Records
Whether they were terribly late for the initial explosion of effects-laden noise bands in the late eighties and early nineties, or ridiculously early for the second wave of so-called shoegaze, what is certain is that Skywave were a band out of time and kilter with prevailing trends.
From 1995 to 2003, the Fredericksburg, Virginia three piece, consisting of Oliver Ackermann, Paul Baker and John Fedowitz, released four fine albums which, while heavily indebted to The Jesus & Mary Chain and Sonic Youth, certainly demonstrated an innate ability to knock out bonafide three minute melodic noise pop gems. At the time, however, the world didn’t seem to care much, with britpop and grunge dominating the alternative rock scene on both sides of the Atlantic for a large part of Skywave’s existence. Only recently has there has been a level of acknowledgement, as shoegaze’s Great Reawakening continues, and the excellent Blog That Celebrates Itself even commissioning a nineteen track tribute earlier this year, entitled Got That Feeling, which features cover versions of Skywave tracks by contemporary artists of like mind and sound.
It does seem strange that the work of Skywave has not received greater attention, particularly when you consider the success and renown of the bands that they spawned. Ackermann moved to New York and has become synonymous with the art of blistering guitar noise, both through his band, A Place To Bury Strangers, and his effects pedal business, Death By Audio. Fedowitz and Baker stayed in Virginia and formed Ceremony (not to be confused with the hardcore band from San Francisco of the same name), releasing three albums and numerous EP’s as a two piece with a drum machine, before in 2012 Baker formed Static Daydream with girlfriend Jamie Casey, and the same dynamic.
Their self-titled debut album arrived at the end of August, on go-to shoegaze/dream pop imprint Saint Marie Records, and although it is fair to say that, much like the work of A Place To Bury Strangers and Ceremony, they do not veer too far away from the original Skywave template of wilfully lo-fi, scuzzy noise pop, Static Daydream displays a more conventional song-writing structure than either of the aforementioned, with vocals dripping in wistful melancholy, and the end result is an entertaining, euphoric listen, glistening indie pop turbo charged with reverb and furious distortion.
‘More Than Today’ opens the album and characterises much of what follows, as an archetypal and eminently hummable 3 minute post-punk/pop song, albeit smothered in buzzsaw guitar. Baker and Casey’s contrasting vocal pitches intertwine perfectly here, but disappointingly are not found elsewhere on the album, with Baker’s perfectly acceptable, languid delivery taking the lead.
‘Nowhere To Hide’ heads for darker, more intense places, and is the track that has most in common with Ackermann’s recent output, while ‘Just Stay’ and ‘When She Falls’ slow the pace just enough to let those melodies shine through the cacophonous din.
Elsewhere, the rapid nature of the songs, and their similar style, can make for something of an analogous listen at times, with some tracks blending into one another. Fortunately there is enough reverb-soaked excellence amongst the eleven track collection to retain our interest and restore the colour when needed, with ‘Blue Tambourine Girl’, ‘Until You’re Mine’ and the wonderful ‘When I Turn Around You’re Gone’ the main cases in point.
Although the lack of variety is a perceived weakness of the record, Static Daydream should be entirely respected for what they have given us here- a no-nonsense, heads down, blistering ride through the scuzzier, punkier side of shoegaze. The album will not win prizes for originality, but this is a band staying true to its roots, and the result sounds thoroughly convincing.
