Adam KennyThe sky is falling in the background
From airport music (shout out Brian Eno) to fill in the void, to soundtracks for shows such as Normal People. To fill the space while adding to the atmosphere and tone of the show. Ambience in of itself is something that we are all naturally drawn to. It can be as simple as leaving your television on in your sitting room, or having the radio on while you cook. Even having an album on low volume with some candles. Creating an atmosphere and space to suit the mood is something we all can understand and even find to one of the most important traits for certain events.
Recently, I’ve been finding myself gravitating more and more to music I could have on in the background while I work. Sometimes I won’t have anything on in my earbuds as I work. Simply because it just helps block out other noises. Music can be more distracting than it can be helpful at certain times such as when I listen to The Strokes. I love their music, but I hate working to it. I’ve gone on a quest over the past couple of years to find albums that I can listen to reliably while I work. Video game soundtracks were a good start, then I naturally started to lean towards shows and movies. One genre however that crept in again was shoegaze. Specifically, washed out and thicker shoegaze. Which is where Astrobite’s all the stars will fall comes in.
Astrobite
Astrobite is an American shoegaze band formed by Scott Cortez, whom is also responsible for Loveliescrushing. An exceptional shoegaze project that is best known for it’s 1993 album bloweyelashwish. An album I credit with being one of the more unique shoegaze acts to come out of the scene. Furthering and expanding upon what shoegaze is. Astrobite was formed in 1993 alongside Kelly Coffey and Ryan Davis. Their first album, crush, released back in 2001 has become a cult classic in the shoegaze scene. For me, it remains to this day one of the more pivotal “deep cut” recommendations when trying out the genre. An eclectic and unique discography, one of which I need to explore more of. Except for one album.
Meteor shower in you ear
all the stars will fall was released back in August of 2012. It is an album I have constantly come back to over the past 2 to 3 years. Coming from their most popular album, crush, I was expecting a similarly melodic yet crunchy approach to shoegaze. all the stars will fall however, offers a much simpler, blunt and lush experience. As a classic shoegaze trope, you have no idea what the lyrics are. You can hear these ethereal and haunting vocals that sound like someone is having a shower in a sewer pipe singing to themselves. Downtrodden melodies casting themselves over the listener while there’s a never ending subtle haze. There’s 9 tracks on the album, but I’d be lying if I said I knew them each individually insanely well, simply because it’s one giant song to me.
memoriesbecomehardertoparse
I have listened to all the stars will fall dozens of times by now. I have it on loop all day at times, as it just helps me focus, and other times allows for me to zone out. Scott & co have created this blurry static soundscape that you can just float in and forget about everything. Scary and haunting at times, it sounds like the hero of a film is seeing his life flash before his eyes where the memories become harder and harder to parse. A dramatic album to the say the least.
The the title’s of the tracks are just as memorable: “silveryandstarless”, “unknowncolor”, “smileslikesknives”, and “wanderingbirdsblind”. Eery tracks with equally as unnerving titles. On top of all of his, the cover art for the album looks like this tendril alien ghost spirit that looks like it’s coming to life. The atmosphere that is created on this album from it’s tracklist, cover art that is then sonically transcribed is incredible.
Overall
It’s difficult to try and do justice by explaining the sound of all the stars will fall. I can only describe it as a psychedelic mindfuck that should scare the shit of you, but realistically, I just found it peaceful. Getting into this slowly paced hurricane of an album is a joy. It’s akin to whales singing or white noise. Relaxing, ethereal, majestic and bewildering. all the stars will fall is an album I feel more people should really try. It’s got some of the most interesting textures and sounds I’ve heard in any album over the years. An album I come back to over and over again, and being dropped into the endless abyss of textured riffs with everlasting vocals.
