Astrobrite – Crush LP (BLVD)
First release on a new label run by some folks out of the ever-dependable Laurie’s Planet of Sound record shop in Chicago. Astrobrite was the name donned by Cortez/Loveliescrushing guy Scott Cortez to showcase his shoegaze material back from the first and second waves of that movement. Crush was initially released in 2001, though its material was for the most part from five years earlier, when it could have played in part of U.S. washout of that whole scene. Astrobrite holds it pretty close to the gold standard – oh come on, I don’t need to say their name, do I? – right down to the use of sampled/pitch-bent guitar noise to embellish and “Swirl-ify” the atmosphere within. Cortez made all of these recordings on a four-track, so the use of layering in such a scenario is pretty impressive, the rawness of the recording playing against the lightness of his melodies, all in all doing a better job than almost anyone in the form today. Astrobrite has developed somewhat of a cult following, and it’s clear why – at proper volume, these tracks could cause damage to loose masonry or unsure dental fillings. But under all that treatment, Cortez shows up with moving, beautiful examples of dream pop, and ultimately it’s that attention to the craft that makes this one a big winner. Anyone who likes this sound at all would surely stand to gain by purchasing a copy, and with luck this work will get the ball rolling for other nth string shoegaze and ethereal outfits of our past (Ultracherry Violet, anyone)? Red vinyl. (http://blvdrecords.com)
(Doug Mosurock)
