Blue Glass - Pale Mirror
Seattle’s Michael Shunk, aka Blue Glass, dropped his sophomore album not too long ago. It’s called Pale Mirror and features nine-tracks of glistening synth-pop.
Blue Glass
Citing influences like The Cure, Felt, OMD, Durutti Column, and Woo, Shunk moved to Seattle from somewhere in the Midwest. Shortly after arriving he joined Transient Songs, while simultaneously continuing to work on his own music.
Inspired by the singularly cold and grey winters experienced by the denizens of the Pacific Northwest, Blue Glass’ soul-searching music envelopes listeners in brooding soundscapes pervaded by dreamy, jangly colors suffused with remarkable sonic allure.
Highlights on the album include “Sleep,” which opens on spangled hues flowing into darker colors rife with rippling sinuous streams. Hints of new wave inject the tune with stylish articulation and dreamy energy. A slightly staggered rhythm gives the tempo a tasty shifting feel, as Shunk’s marvelously reflective timbres travel overhead, infusing the lyrics with almost mystical savors.
The harmonic arrangement of this track is nonpareil, with its pulsing impetus and delicious accents.
The Police-like dynamics of “We Loved The Rain’s” intro grabs listeners immediately. It’s subtle yet potent, and presages the melody’s assumption of velvety textures, glowing with buttery surfaces and gleaming textures.
“Hometown Highs” features a thrumming bass line, jangly-lite guitars, and a driving rhythm that takes on depth and resonance as the drums change color, from flat to rounded. The harmonic arrangement of this track is nonpareil, with its pulsing impetus and delicious accents.
“Incantations” opens on a throbbing kick-drum and then segues into a radiantly propulsive rhythm with glittering guitars topped by Shunk’s purring tones. The jangly new wave feel of the melody projects an almost palpable energy, elegant and shining with pale pigments.
“Out Of Time” rides dirty fuzzy guitars supported by crunching percussion. The haziness of the guitars stipples the atmospheric soundscape with mottled colors and grating resonance. This might be my favorite track on the album because of its brawny yet luminous harmonic flow.
Pale Mirror is confection of pure elegance, full of lustrous auras of surging colors, infectious rhythmic flows, and delectable pensive vocals.
