Spool - Cyan / Amber (2020)

"Shoegaze persists in modern Japanese rock circles, with no shortage of bands across the country taking cues from My Bloody Valentine and Ride. Tokyo’s Spool makes their fondness for the style pretty clear, but what separates them from other feedback-adoring groups is their ability to step out from the fuzz just enough to give listeners something to latch on to. That’s best captured on last year’s Spool, an album using noise and clearness to create a tension that amplifies tracks such as “Be My Valentine.” -Bandcamp