Saturday 28 May 2022

Tristeza: Come Along on a Surreal Shoegaze Journey






With a very acoustic composition the new surreal Shoegaze album by Netherlands based band Resplandor is an ethereal, mesmerizing musical treat.  Antonio Zelada, songwriter and lyricists for Resplandor describes the new album Tristeza as “being able to be played without the wall of sound and would work well before the effects montage.”  The album was produced and mixed by Robin Guthrie and mastered by Simon Scott. 
Tristeza starts with the entrancing song “Blue” The rhythmic and hypnotic start to “Blue” propels the listener towards the dual vocals that entwine and beckon.  A cadenced chime,  like a magical heartbeat,  keeps the listener from falling completely into the dreamlike soundscape.  “Rêverie” has an alluring female vocal that is enticing but seems deliciously just out of reach.  Within the song a cello teases and Robin Guthrie adds some bass.  The title song of the album Tristeza has a somniferous air with a beautiful wafting and drift inspiring sound.  “Adore” has an anodyne flowing sound that feels as though you are bobbing along with captivating buoyancy on a mythical sea of sound. There is an old school Shoegaze sound to the song.  “Océano” makes great use of the drums as the song ebbs and flows like a roiling sea, lifting and dropping the listener in a tumultuous ocean soundscape.  “Feel” has a more intense sound with haunting lyrics that flux and undulate taking the listener on an introspective musical journey.  Once again with a comfortable old school Shoegaze sound “Silencio” intrigues and motivates the listener to traverse a spectacular musical landscape.
This beautiful surreal Shoegaze album by Resplandor is well worth listening to.


Music and lyrics Antonio Zelada (vocals, guitars, e-bow, programming) 
Joeri Gydé (bass, baritone guitar, cello), 
Christopher Farfán (drums), 
Tatiana Balaburkina (synthesizer, backing vocals) 
Artwork by Puck Verheul
 Released by Automatic and pressed in the Netherlands by Deepgrooves.



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