“If you were here i’d be home by now” is the debut album by Vancouver shoegaze band Smush. The record opens softly with a gently picked indie rock melody accompanied by an equally soft and inviting voice. This lasts for about a minute before a shriek of feedback and thrashing guitars decimate the short lived peace. In an instant the soundscape Smush invokes becomes fully realized. I love the way the vocals don’t increase in intensity as the instrumentation absolutely does. It’s almost like being guided forward by a soft hand into a hazy netherworld.
The angelic voice becomes a lifeline as we are plunged beneath wave after wave of fuzz. The lyrics of the opening track “if we didn’t cry” are some of the most heart-breaking of the album and set the tone early. ‘As tears fill up my eyes / it would be sadder / if we didn’t cry / each time we say goodbye.’ if you were here carries as heavy an emotional weight as it does musically.
A wonderful album that explores the legacy of both Slowdive and Sonic Youth, dipping into several other genres, serving a pleasant surprise or two while managing to remain coherent from the first track to the last. Catchy melodies are seamlessly intertwined with walls of sound while the often delicate vocals go hand in hand with the crackle and fuzz of the instruments exploring the more noise oriented realms of alternative rock. Genuine emotion with a hint of unpretentious nostalgia.
Immaculately produced but still full of vibe, this is a total new fave. With levels of guitar sludge, plus the more abstract sample based tracks give this a whole other dimension.
released June 15th, 2024
bass/vox: Emily Borrowman
guitar: Atley King
drums: Jay Christie
The Fat Angel Sings 