Shoegaze is most effective when adhering closely to the tenets of punk’s influence on the style, enveloping short compositions in enough static and haze and overwhelming volume to render the listener inescapably enraptured by the sound. The ability to translate the sheer physicality of the communal mosh into a singularly intimate experience that is no less visceral is a hallmark of the style, often neglected in favor of obtuse sonic ruminations that bumble along before losing the plot amidst unchecked narcissism and the billowing obfuscation of cheap smoke machines.
Object Of Affection keeps it tight on “Through And Through,” diligently mining a thunderous cacophony through the tumbling rumble of feedback and distortion to excavate glistening marvels of melody that flash brilliantly amidst the noise. There’s a considerable amount of Psychocandy-worship on display, but the band’s deftness and sincerity strengthen the track beyond becoming just another link in a Jesus And Mary Chain. “Through And Through” is, of course, best experienced at maximum volume inches away from a PA, enabling complete surrender to a deluge that ends as quickly and furiously as it begins. Standing in the breathless vacuum that follows the final note, ears ringing from the auditory rush and soul humming with electric incandescence, there is a sparkling magic that stands every hair on end like the whispered commitment of a lover: “I’ll stick with you, through and through.”
Director Jai Love augments “Through And Through” with a chaotic and claustrophobic video that translates shoegaze’s sensory overload into visual form through jittery camerawork and unceasing motion. Tightly cropped shots vibrate intensely, buffeted by waves of sound and emotion in equal measure, lingering only for the briefest moments to capture the band’s faces in flashes of striking humanity. Rather than obscuring the visuals beneath a layer of grain and grime, Love keeps the picture crisp, mirroring the track’s chiming melodies with crystalline focus.
“Through And Through” is the latest entry in Suicide Squeeze’s Pinks And Purples singles series, streaming now on Spotify and available physically via a unique limited 3.5” floppy disc here. Follow Object Of Affection on Instagram.
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Upcoming Shows
05/27 Los Angeles, CA @ Genghis Cohen w/ Gunn, Kumo 99, Semantix
07/08 Los Angeles, CA @ Echoplex w/ These Arms Are Snakes
