Destroyalldreamers - Wish I Was All Flames

2004 seems so long ago when Montreal instrumental shoegazers Destroyalldreamers released their debut album À Cœur Léger Sommeil Sanglant. Upon its release the album received quite a bit of positive words written about it as well as Tonevendor eventually declaring it the best shoegaze album of ’04. All of it was deservedly so as À Cœur Léger Sommeil Sanglant was indeed a very fine album of lush atmospherics and shimmering guitar work. As one could imagine with an album as good as that one, the wait for the next would feel excruciatingly long. Although there were tracks on compilations released in between and a vinyl only EP on Claire’s Echo titled Glare/Halo, it just wasn’t enough to weaken that sort of pain. Once you’ve had a taste of something that good you simply cannot wait very long to have it again. So here we are in October of 2007 and the wait has finally come to an end as Destroyalldreamers have just released their follow up Wish I Was All Flames on Where Are My Records.

To put it quite simply, for those that enjoyed the last album I cannot possibly imagine any them being disappointed with their latest effort. It’s every bit as magnificent as their debut. During the period in between albums it was noted that the band focused some on learning how to produce, which definitely shows. While their debut was every bit as pristine with its ambient textures, on Wish I Was All Flames the crispness of the guitar swirls and overall layering effects are executed in an almost flawless fashion. It’s pretty evident after listening to this record a couple times that this trio has spent countless hours honing in their craft. Where À Cœur Léger Sommeil Sanglant tended to drift just a little bit, Wish I Was All Flames seems to have tightened things up completely not letting the songs wear out their welcome or possibly risk losing the interest of the listener. Those are things that I imagine one learns playing in a completely instrumental band though and for a band that has only put out two albums, there are hardly any flaws to their music that can be found. Destroyalldreamers continue to show why they are easily one of the best groups currently active out of the new crop of shoegaze acts.

Definitely give this band a listen, especially if ethereal shoegaze/dream pop is your thing. It won’t disappoint.

Destroyalldreamers – Wish I Was All Flames [MP3]
Destroyalldreamers – A Summer Without You [MP3]

Wish I Was All Flames can currently be purchased directly from the band on their website.