By José Gandue @spinning zone
🌫 Flat Earth: Sound postcards from Brazil
We've already confessed it several times: The Zonagirante.com office and its surrounding area are a territory of devotion for shoegaze. (A subgenre of alternative rock characterized by layers of ethereal guitars, surround effects, and hazy vocals, originating in the 1980s).
If they were ever to structure our musical family tree, there would be a thick branch dedicated to bands like My Bloody Valentine, The Jesus and Mary Chain and Ride, among many other examples.
That kind of acid guitar sound is part of our intimate moments, where we cover ourselves with sheets of feedback and tremors of noise that calm our anxieties., fighting with gentle anger the uncomfortable and useless silence.
Therefore, we are delighted to know that shoegaze, as a musical style, remains alive and constantly evolving after four decades, especially on this side of the world. Today, we celebrate the album. Natural, from the Brazilian group Flat Earth (thus with a lowercase letter).
🔊 Murmurs, guitars and atmospheres
A summary of his career could be the following: Terraplana was formed in 2017 in Curitiba, Paraná State. Their first EP, Exile, The album was independently released in 2017 and received positive reviews, leading to performances in Paraná, São Paulo, and Santa Catarina. In 2019, they shared the stage with prominent Brazilian indie rock bands such as Terno Rei and Adorável Clichê.
The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 delayed the recording of their first studio album. However, in 2021 they released a cover of Na Sua Shelf by the singer Pitty. In 2022, they began working on their debut album, Olhar Pra Trás, produced by Gustavo Schimer and released on March 1, 2023 under the Balaclava Records label.
The album was well received and Selected by the Paulista Association of Art Critics as one of the 50 best national albums of 2023.
Its current members are Stephani Heuczuk (bass and vocals), Vinícius Lourenço (guitar and vocals), Cassiano Kruchelski (guitar and vocals) and Wendeu Silverio (drums).
🎧 Shoegaze that breathes and feels
Now, a couple of weeks ago it came out Natural, also released by Balaclava Records, and was recently performed live at the renowned SXSW festival in Austin, Texas., receiving the best reviews from the specialized press.
It may sound exaggerated, but the result of his ten songs is boldly welcoming.
For those approaching this type of proposal for the first time, there is one detail that will surely catch their attention: This is an almost inconceivable mix of caustic instrumental explosion and seduction., Adding, almost by ear, the presence of the voices, which almost never fall into shouting and rather, on the contrary, are an enveloping whisper, which, fed by reverberations, blends into the whole as another additional sound tool.
That, in its own way, flat-Earth, it does brilliantly. The excellent decision to combine Heuczuk and Kruchelski's vocals creates an exquisite dreamlike atmosphere, while the raw rock and roll playing in the background provides a suitable cushion for the journey.
A perfect moment to understand what might happen occurs in the third track of the album, Charlie, where we recommend closing your eyes and turning the volume up all the way, waiting for that explosive second which may remind us of the best days of bands like The Catherine Wheel or Slowdive, brought and adapted for the audience of these times.
🌙 Noise as a caress
As a technical detail about this album, it should be said that it was produced Joo Joo Ashworth, A young American professional of Asian origin, residing in the city of Los Angeles, who has worked with bands such as Pixel Grip, Dummy, and Winter, among others. A new character to watch in the global alternative scene.
We close by saying that this record is a different kind of bang. This is stridency to seduce, to be silent and live it. It is the result of combining electromagnetic waves to jump, to kiss, to awaken any kind of personal revolution.
If they insist, we recommend, apart from the one already mentioned Charlie, The best moments were the themes Airbag y CNS, But that's for sure: Don't you dare skip the rest of the tunes, we will not forgive you for that crime.
First, for your own good, perform the ritual of listening, without hesitation or pause, to this entire vibrant, experiential paradise. Then, assuming you'll have a broad smile on your face, do whatever you want.
🎧 Listen to Natural in full:
You can also listen to it on Bandcamp, where you can directly support the artist:
Also read our review of Winona Riders for another Latin shoegaze
