by Dan Goldin (@post_trash_)
The past few years have been met with change and transitions for Seattle’s Spiral XP. Since the release of their debut EP, Drop Me In, the band have moved around, swapped members, and navigated the obstacles that life will throw in your way. The Max Keyes (Versing) led shoegaze quintet have come out the other side with It’s Been A While, due out February 17th via Danger Collective Records (Spirit Was, Emily Yacina, Red Ribbon). Recorded together with Joojoo Ashworth (Dummy, Automatic, SASAMI), the EP is packed with wall of sounds guitars, drifting on aggressive distortion and punch rhythms to match, but at the core of their gazey sprawl lies deeply woven melodies and songs that feel destined to be dissected. Hooks arise from unlikely sources, stretched and rubbery in the storm of the fuzz, Spiral XP deliver pop warmth beneath the layers, shinning from the corners of their sound.
“Free Thinking” is the second single from the upcoming record, a song that opens with classic shoegaze crunch reminiscent of the greats (Swirlies, My Bloody Valentine, Broken Water… take your pick). The feeling as though you’ve stepped outside yourself is immediate, as distortion blooms and bursts over a repetitive structure, easy to digest at surface level but fun to explore the further you dissociate. There’s a hypnotic quality to the song, ringing in cycles with guitars providing the hooks as vocals add textural presence and intrigue, the focus becomes the staccato roar of the band’s shoegaze soaked psychedelic pop.