Cryogeyser proves the heart is a muscle on confident, vulnerable self-titled LP
Cryogeyser’s sophomore, self-titled LP finds the band expanding on the dreamy, psychedelic indie sound that defined 2019’s Glitch with a bolder approach to nearly every aspect of their songcraft, layering in fuzzy guitars to propel introspective prose that proves the heart is a muscle, too.
Cryogeyser is primarily melancholy music best suited for rainy days spent curled up windowside, watching the world damply bustle about like an animated Monet, vingettes of observed life reflected through the pane on convex lenses of eyes as clear and wide as the promise of a blue sky after the clouds are lifted away on golden pathways of hopeful sunshine. There is a prevalent sensation of separation throughout the album, but Cryogeyser avoids the pitfalls of reclusive despondency by placing an emphasis on the warmth of companionship and the assuredness of finding self-love as an objective that inspires upstream progress towards multi-faceted contentment.
“Sorry” opens the album with a hard-edged attitude that presses against the swirling, dreamy indie atmosphere, defined by a wooly riff that dominates the hook and reframes the end of a relationship as a new beginning, actively choosing to seek happiness rather than remain mired in gloom. The muscular approach continues on “Stargirl,” building on the established momentum and accenting the lyrical narrative of a relationship on the brink of an uncertain future with powerfully emotive vocal flourishes emphasizing the anguish of an impending break.
As the album progresses, Cryogeyser lightly dials slightly back the noise, making space to fill in their expanded sonic palette with gauzy, almost-shoegaze, chiming post-punk duskiness, and glitteringly subdued power-pop as a persistently guitar-forward means to articulate the nuanced lyrical themes. The fuzzed-out riffs never try dissipate, instead hovering beneath the waves like a slumbering leviathan occasionally breaching through to flash its armored hide amongst the gentle tides of Cryogeyser’s free-flowing consciousness and elemental resilience.
Surrounded on all sides by lavishly crafted expressions of vitality and heartache, “timetetheredforever” occupies the center of the album with a stripped down presence overflowing with aching vulnerability, resetting the stage for a second act that continues Cryogeyser’s journey of richly rendered poetry set against a backdrop of billowing instrumentals offering occasional glimpses of raw edges tucked between the pages of an illuminated manuscript. Album closer “Love Language” makes a final pivot, introducing a beat-forward, 90s pop influence complete with glitchy accents that juxtaposes the pains and joys of romantic communication against a kaleidoscopically sunny disposition.
Even at their most ethereal, Cryogeyser never succumb to listlessness, holding fast to a resolute sense of purpose that flows forth from the self into every aspect of the interpersonal dramas that play out with a beautifully tactile realness. These are songs that want to be engaged with and related to, written and composed in a matter that makes Cryogeyser an undeniably compelling listen, one that fully envelops with its whole-hearted conviction and confident sense of self.
Stream Cryogeyser on Spotify and follow the band on Instagram.
Upcoming Shows
w/ Spirit Of The Beehive
Feb 20 - The Grand Social - Dublin, Ireland - Tickets
Feb 22 - The Flying Duck - Glasgow, Scotland - Tickets
Feb 23 - The Deaf Institute - Manchester, England - Tickets
Feb 24 - Bodega - Nottingham, England - Tickets
Feb 25 - Hare & Hounds - Birmingham, England - Tickets
Feb 26 - Clwb Ifor Bach - Cardiff, Wales - Tickets
Feb 27 - The Dome - London, England - Tickets
Feb 28 - Green Door Store - Brighton, England - Tickets
Mar 02 - Thekla - Bristol, England - Tickets