REVIEW

The second EP from UK shoegaze band Lemondaze.

Comprised of Isis de Chastelain (guitar/vocals), Rosie Heard-Edwards (guitar/vocals), Finn Fox (drums), and Jonty Freeman (bass), the Cambridge quartet return with their first new release in four years since the debut EP “Celestial Bodies.” Compared to their earlier material, this release expands its sonic palette with a stronger post-rock sense of scale and the dense textures associated with contemporary heavy shoegaze. At the same time, the fragile elegance and ethereal atmosphere reminiscent of Slowdive remain fully intact, enveloping the record in a dreamlike haze threaded with subtle unease.

Opener #1 “polari” pairs energetic rhythms with electronic flourishes, while impossibly fragile whisper vocals drift through layers of towering guitars. Its fusion of weight and delicacy recalls Curve, SPC ECO, and recent Just Mustard, capturing the essential contrast at the heart of shoegaze through dense textures and faded vocal melodies.

#2 “c=bain” unfolds with a slowcore/post-rock sensibility, balancing clean-tone guitars with spectral vocals that sway gently across the arrangement. Lyrics questioning the existence of angels deepen the song’s solemn atmosphere, drawing the listener into a quietly transcendent mood. It also stands as one of the clearest signs of the band’s evolving sound.

#3 “o(type)” leans further into grungegaze territory with its crushing guitar work and dynamic shifts between silence and overwhelming noise. The tension created by those contrasts gives the track a cinematic intensity, while a Wisp-like sense of fantasy adds striking emotional depth.

On #4 “gravemind,” moments of calm and eruption intertwine with subtle electronic arrangements, further broadening the band’s sonic vocabulary. Cited by the band themselves as a personal favorite, the track feels emblematic of Lemondaze’s natural progression rather than a dramatic stylistic departure.

Closer #5 “terra” brings the EP to an emotional peak, weaving violently distorted guitars with mirage-like vocals between passages of restraint and release. Its dynamic structure delivers a powerful sense of catharsis, while the bittersweet chorus leaves behind one final wave of aching melancholy perfectly suited for the closing moments.

Rooted in the lineage of ’90s shoegaze while embracing heavier textures and deeper immersion, the EP feels like a vivid reawakening shaped by distinctly UK melancholia. It serves as a strong reminder that the emotional weight and dreamlike grandeur of British shoegaze remain as potent as ever.