{"id":16198,"date":"2022-03-19T13:00:15","date_gmt":"2022-03-19T13:00:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.eyeplug.net\/magazine\/?p=16198"},"modified":"2023-09-04T10:15:25","modified_gmt":"2023-09-04T09:15:25","slug":"black-doldrums-dead-awake-album-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.eyeplug.net\/magazine\/black-doldrums-dead-awake-album-review\/","title":{"rendered":"Black Doldrums – Dead Awake album review"},"content":{"rendered":"

I\u2019ve been keenly following the progress of Black Doldrums<\/a> since first seeing them way down the bill at a psych fest in 2017; since then they have carved out a niche all of their own and picked up a committed live following. With their signing to psych\/post punk big hitters Fuzz Club records and the addition of a bass player to the live line up to complement Kevin Gibbard (guitars and vocals) and Sophie Landers (drums) they have risen to another level. Previous EP releases were dense layered affairs loaded with reverb and fuzz and looping into oblivion\u2013 rewarding those who dived into the sound and listened deeply. With the digital only pandemic era release of the \u2018Metempsychosis\u2019 remixes they fully revealed the hidden depths of their tracks and they continue that journey on their debut album \u2018Dead Awake\u2019. It\u2019s stripped down and cleaned up with the subtler touches being allowed to shine through; they\u2019ve been through a metamorphosis and emerged into post-punk territory, fully unlocking the gothic undercurrent that was always there. Through all the evolution and adaptation there are still remnant psychedelic flourishes and a recognisable Black Doldrums sound.
\nThe windswept and visionary \u2018Sad Paradise\u2019 kicks off the album and sets the tone; driving and pulsing with a drum style that I\u2019d recognise anywhere. \u2018Into Blue\u2019 is quite simply a beautiful song, faraway and poignant, guitars both desolate and angelic.<\/p>\n