Silk is the new solo project from Virgins guitarist/songwriter Michael Smyth. Leaning into the heavier end of the shoegaze spectrum than his main project, he returns with the expansive new single ‘But then, yes’. Building on debut single ‘Faze’, which garnered instant attention from radio and press alike, debuting on DKFM Aspirin Age radio show and caught the sharpened ears of Golden Plec, Hot Press, Nialler9, Ragged Cast, IMRO, First Music Contact, Analogue Trash, White-Light White Heat, MP3 Hugger, TheBeat.ie, Static Sounds Club, Louder Than War, and Turn Up The Volumes 5 Best Debut Singles, along with one of Shoegaze Blog’s Top songs released in 2025 so far.
So that was from the press release; let’s dive into the song! And I say ‘dive’ because this is a very thick, big and distorted layer of sounds, melodies and soundscapes. A proper wall of sound is coming out of my speakers, and I am digging it. Honestly, I don’t know much about shoegaze. Till a couple of years ago, when someone mentioned it, I thought they were trolling me. But I know the sound, and after I educated myself in that genre, that turned out to actually exist (!) I have come to appreciate the soundscapes involved.
This song by Silk is much heavier than your average song of the genre. There are, of course, huge reverbs and delays, but it is not limited to that. The guitar parts are layered beautifully, evoking a range of intense emotions.
Every time the fuzzy, highly overdriven guitars kick in, I realise how related this is to metal and grunge. This is well produced; it’s not just stacking the same riffs on top of each other again and again, but there are distinct parts placed and panned strategically to create a big soundscape. In my opinion, it is not on the dreamy side but rather in a more melancholic and mournful place. However, I am not saying this is a bad thing!
Last thing, if the cymbals were a bit more upfront, it would probably add even more to the washiness of it.
Written by Spiros Maus
