In our memories, Montreal band Prism Shores walked the boundary between guitar pop and shoegaze, and they did it well -- familiar but with just enough individual character to stand out from the crowd. But our expectations for Softest Attack, their new album, required readjustment upon the first listen. On this new outing the band leans hard into indie pop and jangle, and they do it with flair and a keen understanding of the diversity of the genre. The sound is bright and clear, the arrangements detailed and the instrumentation rich and layered. But there is nothing twee about the outing -- the amps are turned up and the rhythm section rocks. To our ears Softest Attack could represent Creation Records as well as Sarah Records, while evoking Teenage Fanclub and New Zealand's The Bats. If you like indie jangle and fuzzy indie rock, you owe it to yourself to check out this album.
Prism Shores are Jack MacKenzie (guitar/bass/vocals), Ben Gross (guitar/bass/vocals), Luke Pound (drums/guitar/vocals), and Finn Dalbeth (guitar/vocals). Softest Attack is our now via Meritorio Records.
2 comments:
I was surprised by the change in direction too, but I think it really works. The brighter indie pop sound still feels melodic and textured, just in a different way than their earlier material. I also came across https://platincasino-1.com.de/ while looking for more reviews and recommendations in a similar style, and it pointed me toward a few great discoveries. It'll be interesting to see where the band goes next after this album.
The first listen was a bit of a shock because I was expecting that wall of sound, but instead, it's bright, clear, and incredibly detailed. The arrangements are so rich and layered, it's just a joy to listen to. It’s not twee at all, though; the amps are still cranked up and the rhythm section really packs a punch. It's got that perfect balance of being sweet and fuzzy at the same time. If you're into that classic Creation Records or Sarah Records sound, or if you're a fan of bands like Teenage Fanclub or The Bats, you absolutely need to check this out. It’s genuinely one of the most refreshing indie records I've heard in a while. I was so impressed that I went looking for more info and reviews, and I also came across https://casinacho.at/ while browsing for similar recommendations, which had some interesting points about the band's evolution. It's always great to discover a band that isn't afraid to change things up.
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