It’s hard to describe VANIISH to someone who hasn’t heard them before. If She Wants Revenge went the way they should have, if I Love You But I’ve Chosen Darkness actually recorded a follow up to their stunning debut, if The Soft Moon were a tad less mechanical, If Bauhaus put out an album in 2014….
Does that help? Are you getting the feels? Can you smell what The Rock is cooking?
Anywho, former member of aforementioned The Soft Moon (As well as Wax Idols and Veil Veil Vanish) Keven Tecon is back after some tumultuous times with VANIISH ready to fulfill all of your gothed out musical hopes and dreams in the year of our lord 2014.
Unlike many of their contemporaries, VANIISH prove to not be a one trick pony on debut album, Memory Work. Tracks like “Succession” and “Kaleidoscoped” easily exemplify how VANIISH stray from the pack with dense, lush songwriting similar to The Cure, who are known for easily navigating between the dark recesses to a sunny disposition from album to album. Just listen to the chorus of “Memory Work” and the bright, shimmering synths as Tecon anguishes “Nothing to remember/Nothing to forget” for proof of that.
Speaking of the title track, “Bela Lugosi’s Dead” permeates throughout setting this one up as this generations new goth anthem with its throbbing beats and sinister air. If “Memory Work” is your speed then try “Fragment/Fatigue” next which sees Nick Ott playing a nasty snare echoed by Tecon and guitarist/keyboardist Adam Beck’s sexy guitars and synths. As for the low end in VANIISH, Amy Rosenoff provides the driving bass lines on Memory Work especially during the bombastic “Search And Replace” and the serene grooves of “Cold Fascination”.
Memory Work is out on now through Metropolis Records. Get your limited edition vinyl copy here and a less limited (but still equally awesome) digital copy here.