Redux – Ozzga

Released back in November 2020, ‘Ozzga’ is a  three-track EP hailing from Filipino shoegaze outfit Redux.

You can buy the EP on their Bandcamp page.

There is something oddly heroic about this EP. Little fragments of sound shift gear to signify the good will out. On ‘Zurg’, with MBV’s heart reverberating throughout, they touch upon defiance we could all use right now. Adversity keeps on coming but, their guitars howl back, providing the merest of lights through storm-filled skies.

Meanwhile, on ‘Always’, the drama is intoxicating. A sense of now or never for humanity emanates from their colossal soundscapes. They’ve taken the fragile majesty of Ride’s ‘Vapour Trail’, pissed it off and it’s come back fighting to save our souls.

‘I See When’ launches with LCD Soundsystem’s ‘All My Friends’ riff gently wobbling alongside MBV circa ‘Loveless’ vocals to a short, cinematic, and heavenly noise.

This highly emotive EP needs to be the beginning of a far-reaching album to carry through this year!

Cinema Lumiere - Will You Catch Me?

Cinema Lumiere are a Manila-based four-piece made up of Jon Tamayo (vocals/guitar), Manny Gallo (drums), Sue Torrejon (vocals/bass), and Tan Evangelista (guitar).

Their hearts belong to C86 and Sarah’s Records which is always a fine starting point. With that in mind, here is our track by track review:

Love

A glorious riff echoing the love and summer dreams of Brighter and The Wake. Gentle and sweet, it meanders its way through a tale of romantic hopes and dreams that, even the most cynical can’t fail to be moved by.

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The EP is available from their Bandcamp page.

London Tears

A more lo-fi approach but less beautiful. The hazy swirl of guitars emanates an aimless, almost isolated sense of identity. While we mortals have our heads down, stressed, Cinema Lumiere lifts their heads high above the clouds.

The spirit of The Orchids’ ‘It’s Only Obvious’ burns bright here!

Will You Catch Me?

The Style Council’s sun-kissed adventure chimes with the joy of The Pastels on this romantic adventure. The nuggets of brass and the dual vocals bring the EP’s most triumphant moment.

Yet again, they found an outlet for an indie-pop solo to ripple across still water in the evening sun. If another band can bring a sense of peace and sunshine in 2021, then we’re in for a great year (we are owed one!).

Dreamcatcher

Beauty and melancholy collide in this cinematic tale of friends reassuring one another. Skins, This Life, Superbad, The Inbetweeners, and Sex Education, picture any of these coming age tales to these songs and your senses will come alive with glorious montages.

As lockdown rears its ugly head once more, their windswept solo fills the heart with all those you miss and the memories missed. However, their message is one of love so hang in there!