Surfacing To Breathe
Seahorse, 2017
9/10
Listen to Surfacing To Breathe
An Catania (Sicily) outfit who are well versed in psychedelic sounds just as they are moody post-punk and pop friendly shoegaze, this 2nd album from Clustersun is 8 tracks of precise and captivating beauty and noise in a setting that sounds indebted to the softer sounds of the ‘60s and the punk/goth/New Wave ideas coming out of England in the early ‘80s.
“Raw Nerve” starts the listen percussively strong as a dreamy atmosphere enters with soaring vocals amid a delivery that’s part alt-rock and part post-punk, and “Antagonize Me” follows with moments of calmer buzzing versus loud swells of sonically engaging noise that’s still quite tuneful.
In the middle, “The Whirling Dervish” finds an ambient place to reside, where an ominous quality enters both soothing and abrasive climates, while “Don’t Let The Weight Of Your Soul Drag You Down” glides with an ethereal approach that’s cinematic and majestic.
Closer to the end, “Surfacing To Breathe” brings doom and pop together in its hazy, retro execution, and “Event Horizon” exits the listen on the best track, where shoegaze, space-rock and dream-pop all meet with much creativity.
A band that will appeal to fans of Pink Floyd, My Bloody Valentine or even Bauhaus, Clustersun’s meticulous use of reverb and strategic melodies make Surfacing To Breathe an absolutely incredible record.
Travels well with: Cheatahs- Extended Plays; Eagulls- Eagulls