New Grave Wave
'The Grave' is a perfect example of a song that gives you time to think. Time to listen. Time to decipher the meaning to what is being said in the shoegaze haze of The Caress' guitars. The tune is calming, thoughtful and deeply introspective, offering an excellent demonstration of the capabilities of this group.
The band, now a five-piece having initially formed as a trio of brothers, are still keen on finding "their own brand of melodrama that is quintessentially British" and the South Londoners' newest track quickly plays on a dark nostalgia. With lyrics that talk of visiting a loved one’s grave with the same sweetness usually reserved for love ballads, it feels like a spring song, one you listen to on your walk back home at golden hour when the sun is already hot, but the air is still cold and crisp. It starts slow, with mellow vocals, but slowly develops itself into a neatly-orchestrated frenzy, rich with harmonies and instrumental breaks that let the song breathe nicely.
The Caress's influences are melded together into an expertly constructed fusion of pedal-heavy guitar tones and a softly reserved drum performance. The track slides between similarities to My Bloody Valentine's Kevin Shields, the lazy grooves of Good Morning and even the emotive vocal performances of James Clayton (Crywank.) It all pulls together and presents 'The Grave' as a song with a deep cross-section of musical influences all tied together into an atmospheric tune, but one that never feels crowded or over-developed.
While the subject matter of the song may seem dark, turning to the music video for 'The Grave' we can see footage from singer and guitarist Tom’s and bassist Ben’s parents’ wedding in 1987. I fully recommend listening while watching the wonderfully aged meringue wedding dress make its appearance, in a hazy feel that only old camera work can give. Despite its morbid title, there is a great deal of hope to be found amidst the melancholy of this track's ghostly falsetto's and overdriven guitars. Check it out here.
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Maria Orlando is a bookworm and writer that traded Italy's mild weather for London's constant drizzle. All to study literature. Oh well.
Thanks for reading! Slow Motion Panic Masters is a music, arts and culture blog created and edited by Ben Wheadon, a literature student and musician based in London, England.
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