Ashrae Fax should have been a bigger band, but it feels like timing wasn't ever on their side. Formed 1993, after the dream pop/shoegaze bubble had certainly burst, and never really took off in America. They didn't release a proper album till 2003 (self released Static Crash), while playing as far as I know mostly in Greensboro, NC. Somehow this obscure album gets in the hands of Mexican Summer, they reissue it, and released new LP in 2014. Unfortunately, this is after the small gazey boom of late 2000s, which is a shame cuz it's a minor masterpiece of Dreamy Pop. Ive seen "Never Really Been Into It" described as synth goth pop but to me its a ethereal collision of great songwriting, production and influences (Cocteau Twins guitars meets not to be reductive, the vocal confidence/creativity of Kate Bush). The songs feel catchy and effortless, and unlike a lot of dream pop, tempos are dynamic. Some of these songs are driving, light on their feet, some groove and of course some sway with hypnotic grace. My favorite song "You Make Me Question My Mind" opens with this sliding, delayed note that echos into infinity and than 44 seconds in the breakdown, with the vocals and walking bass fuuuuuuuuuccccccccck, so perfect, a literal perfect moment in a song. Every song has a small moment where your just like YES. I don't know why/how anyone couldn't love this record, sucks it's not on bandcamp, but their early stuff is. They recently released some singles, so here's hoping more music is coming.
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLOJWuc3CN3024M6CJJkfXEiVJ9tXOoNlq
https://ashraefax.bandcamp.com/music
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