Review Summary: still guilty
“Gazey tunes with simple, repetitive electronic drum patterns”: it’s the type of sentence that might describe a very
whatever set of demo recordings. It’s also the type of sentence that, in the right hands, might describe an excellent and subtly unique album. Brandon Setta (ex-Nothing) possesses that pair of hands. His first full length outing under the You Wish moniker is deceptively simplistic, and primarily succeeds due to his ability to create mesmerising soundscapes with very little - sometimes, haze, fuzz, intersecting abstract melodies, and more haze and fuzz are all you need.
In spite of its short runtime and relatively sparse scope,
Lathe feels patient throughout, allowing each song to establish the specific atmosphere it aims to tackle. There’s abrasive moments (“Lathe”), there’s tracks characterised by quiet yet total dissonance (“Spun Sugar”, “Junk Drawer”), there’s pieces of haunting dream pop perfection (“Radium Girl”) - however, the commitment to a straightforwardly entrancing ambience ties the record together. Each melody is as mesmerising and impactful as it is abstract, revealing no concrete outlines but rendering its ambiguous shapes entirely enduring. It’s a testament to Setta’s songwriting, and one that culminates in the incredible highlight “Stellar Jay”. The penultimate track is equal parts catchy and tranquil, allowing its oppressive atmosphere to elevate the seemingly limitless chorus to immense heights. While
Lathe may finish on a minor misfire of an acoustic track and be slightly too brief to captivate to its full potential, it is an excellent first record from one of modern shoegaze’s most talented voices.
