By The Newcastle quintet have challenged the rampant sense of tedium in this glistening slice of alt-rock.
The pressures and uncertainty of the pandemic have caused a seismic change in societal equanimity, testing our patience and fortitude to its very limit. In a style indicative of the genre they reside in, Palma Louca have emphatically diverted our attention from this adversity in a spectacle of dazzling neo-psychedelic shoegaze.
While exploring the outer limits of guitar texture and tonality, ‘Stationary Life’ delves into a world where auditory fabric eclipses the importance of structure, burrowing into your subconscious like a euphonious ear-worm. Drawing comparisons to Australian counterparts Flyying Colours, crystallised guitars grapple against taut rolling drums, arching hazily onto a flamboyant blanket of rich melodic warmth that teeters across the stereo image.
“[Stationary Life] was inspired as a general comment on the way our society is constructed; the title of the song alludes to a lack of meaning in many peoples’ day-to-day lives that stems from the way modern society operates. This theme is reflected through the songwriting, as the narrative isn’t overly focused – instead being more relaxed and loose – structurally speaking. In this way, the first verse addresses the listener directly whilst the second verse highlights some examples of superficial ideals.“
Joe (singer & guitarist)
In a manner that leaves little to be desired, the record paints itself in a stylish lacquer of polish, rounded off by an infectiously joyous chorus that leaves your subconscious with an intangible buzz. In recent years, shoegaze and its ambiguous history has seen a revival within popular music culture, with the likes of Beabadoobe, Malady and Newdad taking the industry by storm. With their footprint teetering on the edge of dream-pop, the boys have savoured a vintage and contemporary sound that resonates more with every play; offering a true sense of originality with the zeal to match.
