German trio
Seasurfer
make their debut with
Dive In
, a massive, moving cloud of nocturnal shoegaze that would have made them darlings of the alt-rock scene circa 1991. Formed by songwriter/guitarist
Dirk Knight
, whose ethereal wave act
Dark Orange
has been swimming in similar waters for over two decades, the idea of moving from various forms of synth-led dream pop to a heavier, guitar-based shoegaze sound isn't such a stretch. His veteran presence also sets
apart from the myriad of new generation revivalists working in this style which he, vocalist
Dorian E.
, and bassist
Mikel Wegener
handle quite well. If new ground isn't necessarily being broken, they do come across as masters of their chosen field, blending an edgy goth aesthetic with aggressively affected guitars that dip and dive in the classic
My Bloody Valentine
/
Ride
mold behind
Dorian
's throaty vocals, which sit sensuously on top of the mix. The thundering "We Run," with its melodic wall of textural noise, is a sterling example of what
does best. It has the atmosphere and mystique of classic dream pop, but a deep reservoir of power and memorable hooks as well. Throughout the album,
's vocals give other standout tracks like "Cloud Jumping" and the title cut a strong dose of attitude and style, which help to class the album up when some of the lengthier sections begin to drag. Ultimately, the brand of shoegaze
present is based more on solid compositions and rock elegance than all-out experimental effect tweaking. As a result, they eschew the stoner malaise, falling squarely on the more Baroque side of things where they flourish. ~ Timothy Monger