Loveblind – Sleeping Visions (Album – Saint Marie Records)

Genre/Influences: Indie-rock, rock-pop, shoegaze.

Format: Digital, CD, Vinyl, Cassette.

Background/Info: Loveblind was set up in 2017 by Saint Marie Records owner Wyatt Parkins. He rapidly got company from Joshua Garman (Crash City Saints) and German based singer Dorian Electrique (Dear Strange, Seasurfer). Mikel Wegener (Seasurfer) and Neal Burkdoll (Whimsical, Point Of Our Resistance). After a few singles they’ve their debut album ready featuring ten songs.

Content: One of the main characteristics that caught my attention is Dorian E. very particular timbre of voice, which reminds me to Brian Molko (Placebo). And there’s also something to say about the music, which features elements reminding to Placebo. Guitar play and electronic arrangements are pretty complementary, creating this indie-wave-pop & rock touch. The tracklist is alternating harder cuts and other dreamy like songs. There’s also a flavor of melancholia hanging over some parts.

+ + + : First of there’s a cool, enigmatic and artistic digipak of the album. Physical copies will be always so much more than listening to music on streaming platforms. Next there’s the content of this album revealing an accomplished work carried by impressive guitar parts. The guitar play injects this 80s like spirit into the work. I especially like the more shoegaze driven “Sleeping Visions”. I also like the dark-like atmosphere recovering the songs and excelling at “Ice Song” and “White Piano Black Dress”. I prefer the harder side of the work (cf. “War Planets”, “Goodbyes Without Goodbye”), but the diversity of the tracklist is enjoyable. Last, but not least, the album ends with the remarkable “We Land” creating a pure climax.

– – – : Comparisons with bands like Placebo will be unavoidable, but does it really make a point when the global production is great?!

Conclusion: A band doesn’t always have to be in the same room to compose a great production! This debut album is nice surprise and definitely a great album!

Best songs: “Goodbyes Without Goodbye”, “War Planets”, “We Land”, “Ice song”, “White Piano Black Dress”

Rate: (8½).

Artist: www.loveblindband.com / www.facebook.com/loveblindband

Label: www.saintmarierecords.com / www.facebook.com/SaintMarieRecords

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