Whitelands does not merely play shoegaze; they inhabit its architecture, stripping away the genre’s occasional tendency toward hollow noise to reveal something far more muscular and emotionally resonant. On their latest offering, “Sunlight Echoes,” the quartet (comprising Etienne Quartey-Papafio, Michael Adelaja, Omojagunwaye Meseorisa, and Vanessa Govinden), navigates the delicate tension between the ephemeral and the grounded. It is an album that feels less like a wall of sound and more like a prism, catching the light of nineties nostalgia and refracting it through a contemporary, cosmopolitan lens.
The opening movement, “Heat Of The Summer,” sets a precedent for the record’s textural intelligence. There is a specific kinetic energy here that suggests movement through urban spaces, a theme that reaches its zenith on “Shibuya Crossing.” Unlike their contemporaries who often drown melody in pedal-board worship, Whitelands treats Quartey-Papafio’s vocals as a necessary anchor. His delivery carries a clear and gentle authority, providing a human pulse beneath the swirling, oceanic distortions.
The inclusion of Iskra Strings on “Songbird (Forever)” and “I Am No God, An Effigy” elevates the record from a standard indie-rock outing into something cinematic. These arrangements do not simply decorate the tracks; they expand the emotional vocabulary of the album, adding a mournful, regal weight to the compositions. This sophistication is further bolstered by the presence of Emma Anderson on “Sparklebaby.” Her backing vocals act as a subtle nod to the genre’s lineage, yet the track remains fiercely modern, driven by a rhythm section that favors precision over chaos.
As the album progresses through the hypnotic “Glance” and the cavernous “Blankspace,” the band demonstrates a masterful command of pacing. They understand that silence and space are as vital as the crescendo. “Dark Horse” and “Mirrors” showcase a band comfortable in their own skin, blending glassy guitar work with a lyrical vulnerability that avoids the trap of vague abstraction. By the time the listener reaches the closing warmth of “Golden Daze,” there is a profound sense of having traveled through a shifting landscape of memory and light. “Sunlight Echoes” is a rare achievement, an immersive, intelligent record that proves the most vibrant sounds are often found in the overlap between the shadow and the sun.
Learn more by visiting: Bandcamp | Sonic Cathedral | Instagram | Facebook
