Whitelands – ‘Night-bound Eyes Are Blind To The Day’ album review: vital shoegaze for the modern age
THE SKINNY: Shoegaze first emerged in the late 1980s, with bands like My Bloody Valentine and Slowdive leading the charge with their fuzzy, reverb-laced songs and barely audible vocals. The first wave of shoegaze was overwhelmingly white, but the new wave of bands leading the renaissance is demonstrating that the genre can truly be for anyone.
Whitelands have been making music since 2017, although their current lineup was only solidified in 2021. After years of experimentation, they’ve finally created their debut album, Night-bound Eyes Are Blind To The Day, which is more than worth the wait. Using their dreamy, feedback-doused instrumentation as a backdrop for themes of race, neurodivergence and political commentary, Whitelands assert themselves as one of the most vital voices in the genre.
The album is rich with emotion, with lead vocalist and guitarist Etienne Quartey-Papafio often using vivid metaphors and poetic lyricism, explaining, “I do tend to write emotions as anything other than what they actually are”. Sometimes, he allows his voice to melt into the instrumentation and be washed away into the rough waves – the spiralling guitars, punchy drums and steady basslines so evocative, lively, and ripe with feeling that they do the talking for him.
From the gorgeous, dream-pop cut ‘Tell Me About It’ to the visceral nature of ‘How It Feels’, this is an album that will undoubtedly find itself considered part of the staple shoegaze canon in no time at all. Whitelands have made a masterful album that feels wholly intimate and full of love, accessible to both hardcore shoegaze fans and newbies to the genre.
For Fans Of: Writing in your diary, wearing big woolly jumpers and thinking you’re above wearing ear-protecting plugs at gigs (I’ll probably be deaf by the time I’m 30).
A concluding comment from a music journalist hoping to actually like the album she’s been assigned this week: “Finally, my faith is restored. After being subjected to some pretty uninspired indie pop and post-punk releases recently, I was starting to feel rather cynical about the current landscape of guitar music. Whitelands give me hope.”
Night-bound Eyes Are Blind To The Day track by track:
‘Setting Sun’: A great opener that immediately sucks you in with equally powerful instrumentation and lyrics, with the band describing the track as being about the “sadness from the Black diaspora.” [3.5/5]
‘The Prophet & I’: Perhaps the most ‘sing-along’ track on the album, Quartey-Papafio’s vocals really shine here as the band lean closer towards their indie rock and dream pop influences. [3.5/5]
‘Cheer’: Like floating in a pool of calm water, the track opens with a shimmering, patient quality before exploding, quietening, and so on, creating a nice balance between softness and abrasion. [3.5/5]
‘Tell Me About It’: The contrast between Quartey-Papafio’s voice and the light, angelic vocals courtesy of guest singer Dottie (from deary), make this one of the album’s most dreamy, romantic-sounding songs. [4/5]
‘How It Feels’: This song makes me imagine running through rainy city streets at night with someone you love. The sprawling, euphoric guitars really make the track feel like something special. [4/5]
‘Chosen Light’: I can imagine that while listening to this live, you could easily become so enthralled in the guitars, which are somehow simultaneously loud and gentle, that it would feel like floating off into a dream. [3.5/5]
‘Born In Understanding’: Less abrasive and more sonically introspective, ‘Born in Understanding’ is a poetic cut that offers a mellower side to the band’s distinctive sound. [3.5/5]
‘Now Here’s The Weather’: There’s something so potent about the tone of the guitars on this track, which have an air of melancholy to them, fitting Quartey-Papafio’s lyrical exploration of racism and the inequalities defining our current climate. [4/5]
Never Miss A Beat
The Far Out New Music Newsletter
All the latest New Music from the independent voice of culture.
Straight to your inbox.