Demonstrating on their 2013 self-titled EP that they may be the modern group that best replicates the sound of classic, British shoegaze bands (particularly, Isn’t Anything-era My Bloody Valentine), Baltimore five-piece Wildhoney returned with 2014’s three-track Seventeen Forever. Showing off new vocalist Lauren Shusterich as well as more confident songwriting, the EP kicks off with the calming “Seventeen.” Guitarists Joe Trainor and Dave Litz deliver distorted background parts and tinny, warm melodies over bassist Alan Everhart’s ragged and growling bass, while Shusterich’s dreamy vocals make this song quite catchy with lyrics that fit perfectly into the musical base.
“Get Out of My Dreams” is a more punchy, uptempo song that incorporates similarly intricate melodic construction and the more driving album finale “Soft Bats” positively glows when warm vocal harmonies show up during the chorus. The odd jingle-jangle of discordant, unconventional counter-melodies happening in these tracks speaks to the fact of how musically-savvy and open to experimentation Wildhoney is even this early on in their career. All things considered, this band is doing the neo-shoegaze thing better than most groups that have been trying for years and I couldn’t be more excited to hear their future releases.
