Kidsmoke - A Vision in the Dark
by Kimberly Bright
published: 13 / 7 / 2020
Label:
Libertino Records
Format: CD
intro
Beautiful dream pop on long-awaited debut album from critically acclaimed and melodic Welsh indie/shoegaze outfit Kidsmoke
'A Vision in the Dark' is the long-awaited debut album from Wrexham, Wales’s four-piece melodic shoegaze pop band Kidsmoke. They have released a few independent singles, including 2017’s 'Seabirds', 2018’s 'Sister Sadness', last year’s 'She Takes You Under', 'Rising Sun', and 'Take Me to the River' (featured on Netflix’s'Black Mirror'). In addition to local gigs and regional appearances in Liverpool and Manchester, they were hand-picked to play Robert Smith’s Meltdown Festival by the man himself, and were well received at 2019’s SXSW in Austin, Texas. On the strength of Kidsmoke’s remarkable showcase in Austin they signed to Libertino Records earlier this year. To tide everyone over until now, they created an interesting lockdown playlist for 'God is in the TV' zine. The jangly, 'Low' and 'Heroes'era Bowie-influenced single 'The Bluest You' non-judgmentally describes the dark cloud of a person’s depression affecting the others in the same household. The band’s other self-described influences include Wilco (which explains the band’s name), the Beatles, the Smiths, and Kate Bush, all of which can be heard throughout 'A Vision in the Dark'. 'Higher' is reminiscent of the ’80s Paisley Underground sound. Lance, James, and Sophie’s soothing, almost carefree vocals will win many listeners over, and their carefully crafted songs, not far from Euros Childs’ impeccable style, will ensure that newcomers stick around. Sophie Ballamy’s layered, dreamy guitar lines make the songs flow seamlessly, allowing 'The Bluest You' and ‘80s-tinged 'She Takes You Under' to deftly deal with difficult emotionally charged subjects: mental health issues, relationship problems, despair and the general absurdity of being human.
Track Listing:-
1 Passenger2 Layla's Love
3 Colourfield
4 Higher
5 She Takes You Under
6 Kaleidoscope
7 Rising Sun
8 Take Me To The River
9 Still Dreams
10 Little Easy
11 The Bluest You
most viewed articles
current edition
The Church - Interview with Steve KilbeySimon Heavisides - Destiny Stopped Screaming: The Life and Times of Adrian Borland
In Dreams Begin Responsibilities - #15- On Being Dignified and Old aka Ten Tips From Jah Wobble On How To Be Happy.
Secret Shine - Interview
Vetchinsky Settings - Interview
Repomen - Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
Jack Roscoe - Interview
Sami Sumner - Interview
Near Jazz Experience - Interview
Flaming Stars - Interview
most viewed reviews
current edition
Lewis 'Burner' Pugh - Bullets for BreadIan Hunter - Defiance Part 2: Fiction
Inutili - A Love Supreme
Kula Shaker - Natural Magick
Smalltown Tigers - Crush On You
Hillbilly Moon Explosion - Back in Time
David Cross Band - Ice Blue Silver Sky
My Life Story - Loving You is Killing Me
Beyonce - Cowboy Carter
Ty Segall - Three Bells
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart