Being able to explain what makes this album work so well is not an easy task. Apart from the relatively small crowd of people who enjoy noise music, and similar genres, there ostensibly seems to be nothing here for a new listener to grab onto. The majority of
Grandeur of Hair is completely distorted, blown out, and played so loud that a lot of it comes off as a homogeneous blob. Though this is without a doubt the heaviest shoegaze album someone is likely to hear, it still without a doubt belongs to the genre. Like its “peers” the vocals are sonically placed behind the hulking mass that is the instrumentation, and they more or less croon behind the music, even if it does come close to wailing at some points. The guitars are completely slathered in effects (distortion) and largely smother and obscure the finer details of the songs. Whereas “normal” shoegaze uses this to create a dreamlike atmosphere,
Grandeur of Hair does this as well, creating a haze so thick you could capture some in your arms.
Ultimately this is the album’s biggest strength: the tone created here is so opaque and enticing that it becomes addictive, and begs to be played as loud as possible. Certainly a case of style over substance, but this plays into the band’s strengths. While it may be hard to get into at first, revisits are rewarded. There is quite a lot to get lost in, and differentiating between songs becomes much easier and the album reveals quite a few nice songwriting moments. “Sanibel” has one of the most recognizable vocal melodies which is hypnotically repeated throughout the track.This creates one of the best moments offered here and is, dare I say, even a little catchy. Windowpane offers the only reprieve from the crushing weight, sticking out like a sore thumb in the best possible way. The clean guitar contrasts extremely well juxtaposed next to the rest of the madness, and makes it all that more effective. This track is comparable to an oasis in the middle of the sahara; not only is it especially refreshing, the rest of the desert may seem all that much more desolate and barren than before. This track is especially crucial because it stops the album from entirely becoming a homogenous dirge.
Although this is without a doubt a shoegaze album, the average fan should be warned as the sheer density may be a turn off. It distorts, perverts, and transforms the genre into a cronenberg monster - intimidating all the same. The difference may seem massive on first listen, but once you dig deeper you’ll find the only difference is that it is just played so much louder and heavier than their contemporaries. Emphasis on the heavy part, as that can not be overstated. For the most part, it is completely crushing, completely burying you under a mountain of guitar static and pounding drums. However, if any of this sounds even remotely interesting, you should devote some time to this, multiple listens, because it will pay out.
