Released: 2^nd November

 

L.A attracts superficial-ness in a similar way to which light bulbs attract scary looking troublesome moths; so it would be easy to instantly discard anything that rears its head from there as flimsy, scene conscious and ultimately lacking any real depth.

Yet supersonic shoegazers Gliss have crafted an album that stands up and knocks these pre-built notions well and firmly on the head.   

‘Devotion Implosion’ is more concerned with that has happened rather then push forth with any type of new ideas; it is a journey through America’s back beaten past, one that backcombs its way over classic American counter culture.

Opener ‘Morning Light’ embraces Phil Spector style production and slams it onto a formalised three minute rock template, a move which results in a thick wall of fuzzed up guitars drowning out minimal drums and smooth ethereal vocals.

Delve deep in and the template shifts towards new directions as traces of the Velvet Underground’s drugged up indifference as well as The Kills stylised, stripped down take on garage rock can be found creeping through the sonic melee. While ‘Sad Eyes’ with its classically simple “Oooh, Ooh” chorus and confident rock ‘n’ roll swagger sounds like it has been torn straight off of BRMC’s debut.

Yet ultimately Gliss have fashioned an album that takes no shame in its undeniable retro-ness, they have plundered artists back catalogues, ripping out the heart, the soul and everything that made these records great and reformed it into a nice looking highly digestible package that is safe for all of us to unwrap.