SOMBRE BY THE WEEKEND

The pervasive gloaming of Manchester’s suburbs is present in Cruush’s sonic DNA. Grey, gloomy textures provide a grunge-pop base layer to the ethereal weather-like storms they are capable of conjuring. And like any good storm it prompts a beauty-tinged reverence. Think the pale-skinned delicacy of Wolf Alice whipped in the cyclonic guitars of My Bloody Valentine. Sombre By The Weekend is no exception. Acidic guitar washes and industrial drum pops provide the basis on which Amber’s subtly imperious vocals push and pull various threads of anguish. The lyrics fizz with acidic sherbet as well, touching upon toxic friendships and trying to impress a peer group only to be knocked down or made fun of. The feeling of being swallowed up by bigger personalities is echoed in the oceanic flowstate of the guitars that bombard the flood defences of the vocal line. While more traditional approaches to shoegaze suffocate the vocal and message, Amber’s melodic splendour is antidote-like, stealing attention from the tidal waves of noise with queasy timbres of disillusion, doubt and confusion.