by Jesse Pedersen (@Jessegatorade)
The past is a tricky thing: shoegaze, in particular, in that its defining sound typically rests on tropes that have been perfected by bands over thirty years ago. What makes it enjoyable and rewarding is when an artist can deviate from these tropes and blaze through with something inspired and not a grab bag of what we’ve already heard before. This is where Gentle Heat’s Sheer comes in. Nine songs over 28 minutes, the Chicago five piece explore the sweet spot of reverb and fuzz, bombastic drums, light synths, and a forward momentum often lost in the shoegaze/dream-pop genre. The results are an album hard to pinpoint in a thrilling way.
Recorded at the Steve Albini owned Electrical Audio, Sheer is the band’s second album, and was mixed and engineered by Greg Norman (Mclusky, The Breeders, Guided by Voices). The vocals and guitars are reminiscent of a band like Yuck, another act that wasn’t afraid to take 90’s era soundscapes with loud guitars into a new generation. The drums remind of The Breeders’ Pod era, or Slint’s Spiderland with fantastic results that keep the album moving along in moments of repetition. Opening with “Closer” sets the tone, with intricate guitar and dreamy vocals that eases into an intro of every band element, before ending on an energetic high note. Vocalists David Algrim and newest member Sarah Clausen duet throughout, with special complimentary styles on “Total Orbit” and “WDYG.” “Jerk Reactions” meanwhile veers into almost math rock territory while “On Display” and “Dull” find Gentle Heat at its hardest “rock moment.” What works best for Sheer is its consistency, with every instrument and vocal in its seemingly right place, never feeling like a crutch or an added soundscape to fill a void.
It can be hard to find a balance between sweet and abrasive, the urge to make something palatable in an age where listeners rarely get past the first minute. Sheer has all the makings of a band making a cohesive, attention-getting, sonic leap. A thoroughly enjoyable listen front to back, Gentle Heat prove they are one the great underground gems of Chicago and marks a great path forward. Listening back to the record, it’s tricky just what makes them so great, but why can’t it be everything?