Aussie quartet Blank Realm describe themselves as “occult boogie woogie”, which is to say that their dreampop has the kind of jingle-jangle melodies that would have made winkle-pickers shuffle at a Camden indie disco circa 2006. Beyond lyrics about the “caverns of your mind” and candles in windows, they’re light on mysticism, but clearly the band worships at the altar of reverb – to the point that you imagine they all have bowl cuts and hail from Berkshire not Brisbane. Among the album’s brightest moments, River of Longing shuffles along amiably with a chiming shoegaze riff that suggests Slowdive but also the Smiths; Cruel Night is a surf-ish love song that meanders dreamily; and chugging closer Too Late Now aims for MBV heights as blustering distortion closes in on the candescent lead guitar. However, while most songs here would be great for a drunken dance, they aren’t memorable enough for you to still be singing them the morning after.
- This article was amended on 4 September. The original review included an incorrect album title
