New : Pinkshinyultrablast - 'Everything Else Matters'

Shoegaze seems to have touched parts of the globe that other more traditional forms of guitar music can't quite reach, dream pop spores carried across continents to find a home in the least likely of locations. Like Black Metal, Techno and the various modern permutations on abstract instrumentalism, the shoegaze sound crosses over because it's all about feeling man - you don't need lyrics to convey the sensations on show here, just a fuzz pedal and a wild imagination. St Petersburg's Pinkshinyultrablast sound like they've come straight out of a random band name generator for fluffy cloud hopping indie rock but don't let that put you off as their debut 'Everything Else Matters' comes strapped with enough crystalline charm to blow the cobwebs off even the most seasoned shoegazer and make the local competition seem decidedly....well, orthodox (Hahahaha!! Oh dear!). The most obvious reference point here is Asobi Seksu's weightless second wave shimmer, the tracks building on a solid foundation of sugary riffs and lofty effects pedal to skate across the skyline with consummate grace and this is certainly a lot more streamlined than you'd expect from your average bunch of rookies. The vocals recall Liz Frazer at her flightiest but the band are locked into a punchy formation of potent guitar pop and when they choose to put their foot to the floor there's enough wind in their sails to knock you flat on your arse. They may stick to more recognisable fare with the likes of 'Glitter' and the sumptous 'Umi' but elsewhere they let their imagination run wild, tracks like the sprawling 'Metamorphosis' unfolding like Battles locking horns with Lush, the bass pulsating like a rubberband heartbeat as the guitars crash around the place like giant pink thunderbolts. And in true MBV style they've apparently flirted with near bankruptcy in putting the record together so you get the sense that we're dealing with a bunch of preciously talented studio nerds here. Whether they can cut it live will provide confirmation on whether we're dealing with a long term relationship or a quick fling but this is a thoroughly promising start - its title may conjure up awkward memories of the moment where Metallica officially entered a world of suck but 'Everything Else Matters' harbours no less ambition than Hetfield and co in stadium mode. These Russkies are going places and 2015 is already gonna have to try pretty damn hard to top them in the newgaze stakes.

Check out : 'Umi', a double shot of gorgeous with a foamy head of effects pedal.