“Ignite” doesn’t hold back with its wall of sound. It’s filled with all the dream pop and shoegaze music I can think of rolled into one. There’s a slow-burning production in the verse, but then the chorus becomes like a cathartic experience. With a thrilling soundscape, my brain felt the warm embrace of several great throwback acts from the 90s. There’s even a hint of Neil Halstead in the vocals. For fans of the “Souvlaki” band’s output in the last decade, Sea of Days feels like a nice parallel to other effects-driven alternative bands.
The lyrics dig into a deep relationship that’s met by a meaningful embrace. You can call it love, romance, or just a one-of-a-kind bond. Personally, I admired the hopefulness hidden beneath the sometimes-psychedelic imagery. Multi-hyphenate artist Shane Speed backs up the words with ethereal sounds. Far from just a gimmick, the layered textures give listeners like me another reason to return.
“Ignite” makes a compelling case that shoegaze and other dreamlike music have no expiration date. For more music like this, check out Sea of Days on Bandcamp or listen to other singles like “Wound.” There you’ll find other dreamy, alternative rock for your next playlist.
Written by Andy Hammersmith
