Whispers about some new Gang.
In 1994, Slowdive’s Souvlaki became the imprint for most shoegaze following it and since then, ‘good’ shoegaze has been sparse (shoutout LSD and the Search for God). It is a noise sub-genre that focuses on presenting that heavily produced, pleasantly distorted shoegaze sustain sounds so possibilities of inventiveness are often lost.
Because shoegaze is a straightforward genre because it is inherently simple to make-, really only requiring a guitar and a reverb pedal, artists must get incredibly creative to stand out in the scene.
Whisper Gang, featuring vocalist siblings Nick and JJ Mokrzewski (Mok-shev-ski) on guitar and keyboard respectively, Bailey Skilton on bass guitar and Sean Winick on drums, are a Toronto-based shoegaze band that-, like all shoegaze bands, try desperately to expand beyond the constraining nature of the genre and barely squeak by on their EP, Becoming Pt. 1
Becoming Pt. 1, is relatively uninventive yet enjoyable at its core because shoegaze requires little of listeners, especially those fond of noisy music. Specifically the EP’s well-produced ethereal and elated tones sound like ecstasy being shot right into your ears.
The first track, “Don’t Leave,” is an essential example of shoegaze syndrome. It is pleasant to listen to but lacks anything to bring me back. It carries the same sluggish melody throughout under weak, difficult to understand lyrics. It is in fact shoegaze.
“Incognito,” presents an instant change of pace in the project. It acts as a fast paced and upbeat component of Whisper Gang’s repertoire and a demonstration of the inventiveness they can bring to the genre-, enough for me to write: “this is what im talking about, goddamn,” in my first listen notes.
The song utilizes the immediate voices at its disposal rather than stereotypical heavily-layered guitars. While the guitar drives the song with its reverbed chords, the bass develops a distinct alternate melody under vocals (that are lost in the mix again), creating a catchy counter melody to the instrumentation. Dope solo too.
The next two tracks, “These words,” and “Wasted Moments,” are weaker efforts and show the stagnation of the genre. What applies to “Don’t Leave,” applies here as well; an enjoyable melody with captivating features that are minimally used and not expanded upon.
For example, “Wasted Moments,” begins with (finally) noticeable vocals over a guitar timbre not heard anywhere else on the project. This later becomes lost in the greater soundscape created as the song builds, losing what made it initially unique.
The final song, “Whispers,” represents incredible possibility. The other tracks whispered rumours of this potential while ‘Whispers,” shouts it high from the ‘pedal’stal. God I’m funny.
The song features distinct sections of sound that provide highlights of the instruments: a guitar intro melody that transitions into a synth solo which morphs into a guitar solo, then halfway through the instruments coalesce as a verse hits, moving toward the bridge filled with bass flourishes, driving us home to the coda.
Although the best track, it is not without its faults. Throughout the song the vocals and bass (at some points) are lost in the mix and the jump to the coda is clumsy and abrupt.
Whisper Gang’s Becoming Pt. 1 is a solid and respectable effort in a worn out and limiting genre. The tracks can be a smidge similar sounding at times and can mostly be described as “what you hear initially is what you get,” but what you hear is filled with whispers of merit.
6.5/10
Check out what I’m yappin’ about when “Becoming Pt. 1” hits streaming services July 31.
Lucas Bustinski for The B-Side.
