MIss bliss - loose grooves and lullabies

Miss Bliss

Loose Grooves and Lullabies
Minor Sphere Records; 2013

4.0 out of 5

By Matt Jensen

You may be familiar with Miss Bliss if your finger was on the pulse of the shoegaze scene back in the 90’ s. They created songs with a pop sensibility but also had textures and tones not unlike that of a band like Ride or even Slowdive. Before they called it quits they released three albums. Their self-titled release which was more or less a straightforward pop album, followed by their critically acclaimed album warm sounds from a cold town and finally loose grooves and lullabies. Due to record label issues, the record was never properly released. Now it is nine years later and loose grooves and lullabies is being re-released on Minor Sphere Records. Suffice it to say if you are a fan of shoegaze then this is a record that should be listened to without hesitation. The record is full of warm tones, exceptional songwriting and atmospheric conditions that will make any fan of the genre wonder how they missed this one.

The album starts out with an instrumental number entitled “Cheesecakeland” which combines reverb laced guitars, the sound of a dry drum kit and melodies that wrap around your speakers that are sweet and inviting. “Cutest Girl in the Mall” is a spacey pop song that floats and submerges with ease as the vocals become more infectious with repeated listens. One of the best songs on the album is “Velocity” which is also the grittiest and hardest song on the album thus far. Sounding a bit similar to Primal Scream the song bypasses any chorus in favor of driving one riff until its sore. “Bubble Music” emanates warm synths while “Paralyzed and Praying” is the most substantial song of the album as it contains frantic drumming, driving bass lines and appropriately buried vocals. “A Song For Sara” could be a B-side for a Talk Talk record as it has an overtly jazzy sounding vibe that it delicately rides. The official album ends with “Goodbye” but before it does we are also treated to a hidden track that I’m guessing was on the original CD and was track 99.

The record has a distinct 90’s feel and is all the better for it. I was geeked after listening to this record and it inspired me to listen to a couple of other bands that played shoegaze from the 90’s. Fans of shoegaze look no further and check out loose grooves and lullabies.

official website