shoegaze / dream pop
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I mentioned earlier that today is quite a miserable day but luckily there are some things that can always cheer me up. One of them is a bunch of steaming hot pancakes. So I went to the kitchen to bake me some. Right before that however, I loaded this debut into my media player. I was curious about this band since the email arrived a few days ago and I wanted to listen to something that would fit perfectly with this drizzling weather.
Malka is a dream pop and shoegaze band from New York, founded in 2013. Their goal is to create a reflection of the 'triumph and tragedy of the world, compelling us to look deeper into the realms of our consciousness'. They do so with beautiful, somewhat mysterious sounding music and dreamy vocals (both in English and Spanish) by three different lead vocalists. This of course placed perfectly in a highly atmospheric setting, ranging from shoegaze to post-rock and incorporating elements of krautrock and psychedelic rock.
The album opens with 'A Flock Of Crows' and immediately references from Jesus and the Mary Chains, Slowdive and Lush come to mind. It takes me right back to the nineties when several alternative rockband took on a slow and emotional approach. 'Corazon Sin Sangre' continues in that direction and becomes a first shoegazing highlight on this album.
In fact, this deeply emotional atmosphere is present throughout the entire album. It breathes the same air as bands like The Cure (in their 'Disintegration'-era) and My Bloody Valentine. 'Diamond Girl' even enhances that level and 'For Now We Live' brings it to an astonishing early grand-finale by including a brilliant post-rock passage. This rising level of quality music makes the album grow upon the listener, increasingly convincing him of the abilities of this American quartet.
In all, I really dig this album, which by the way reaches another huge highlight at the end where 'Wolves And Sheep' turns into my favorite track. It looks like there's currently a shoegaze and dream pop revival and if that's true, I believe Malka could be one of those bands on the forefront of the present day scene. I sure hope they cross the channel one day and play in venues allover Europe. This could make up for one magical evening.
Serge
Malka is a dream pop and shoegaze band from New York, founded in 2013. Their goal is to create a reflection of the 'triumph and tragedy of the world, compelling us to look deeper into the realms of our consciousness'. They do so with beautiful, somewhat mysterious sounding music and dreamy vocals (both in English and Spanish) by three different lead vocalists. This of course placed perfectly in a highly atmospheric setting, ranging from shoegaze to post-rock and incorporating elements of krautrock and psychedelic rock.
The album opens with 'A Flock Of Crows' and immediately references from Jesus and the Mary Chains, Slowdive and Lush come to mind. It takes me right back to the nineties when several alternative rockband took on a slow and emotional approach. 'Corazon Sin Sangre' continues in that direction and becomes a first shoegazing highlight on this album.
In fact, this deeply emotional atmosphere is present throughout the entire album. It breathes the same air as bands like The Cure (in their 'Disintegration'-era) and My Bloody Valentine. 'Diamond Girl' even enhances that level and 'For Now We Live' brings it to an astonishing early grand-finale by including a brilliant post-rock passage. This rising level of quality music makes the album grow upon the listener, increasingly convincing him of the abilities of this American quartet.
In all, I really dig this album, which by the way reaches another huge highlight at the end where 'Wolves And Sheep' turns into my favorite track. It looks like there's currently a shoegaze and dream pop revival and if that's true, I believe Malka could be one of those bands on the forefront of the present day scene. I sure hope they cross the channel one day and play in venues allover Europe. This could make up for one magical evening.
Serge