With all of the attention being paid to the new shoegaze and dream pop movement, it's nice to see one of its original proponents re-emerge with a new band. In 1993, Louise Trehy was one half of the U.K. dream pop duo Swallow. Their lone release for the 4AD label received little attention at the time, slipping through the cracks as the band broke up not long after. Over 20 years later, Trehy has suddenly reappeared with the 2014 debut album of her new project,
Strata Florida.
Made of Stars is a beguiling mix of swirling lo-fi shoegaze guitar textures and hazy blissed-out vocals. Trehy (having taught herself guitar over the intervening years) and collaborator and bassist Peter Pavli offer up ten tracks full of haunting melody and sonic experimentation that expand the boundaries of the genre. With this release, they join the heady roster of acts at shoegaze specialists Saint Marie Records. ~ Timothy Monger