Black Nite Crash – Washed in the Sound with Black Nite Crash
(Neon Sigh, October 2022)
Sam Russell & Patrick Gibbs have teamed up to discuss the latest offering from Seattle shoegaze collective Black Nite Crash, Washed in the Sound with Black Nite Crash.
Sam: First of all, I find this to be an extremely well-paced and cohesive album. I tend to listen to it front-to-back most of the time and find if I start with an individual track, I gotta hear what comes after then after that. The production and arrangements are superb and after many listens, I keep hearing new textures that open up the songs’ mood and meanings for me rather than just being impressive shoegaze bells and whistles.
My first question to you is, as a long time BNC listener, how does this album compare to past ones? Obviously the addition of Claire Tucker on this album adds a (literal) new voice and new creative contribution to the arrangements. But can you (as objectively as possible, tough I know) hear specific contrasts between BNC of days of yore and the present?
Patrick: I think that the most significant difference in the sound of this album and previous releases from Black Nite Crash is that the sound is so clean. Not just the vocals, but the guitars and drums too. It’s really exciting to hear the voice of Jim Biggs step forward and away from the wash of reverb that many earlier albums and EPs used. Similarly, the guitar contributions of Sharim Johnson (now fronting bloococoon) soar. I am certain that between Sharim, Claire, and Jim there were enough guitar pedals to supply a modest guitar shop. Continue reading