BEST OF 2024 Artist Picks: Iceblynk
To celebrate the end of 2024 and recognize some of the best work of the year, we partnered up with a few of our favorite artists. Next up, we hear from Martin Newman of New York shoegaze project Iceblynk. The band just dropped a single of their own, “Plummet,” which you can stream down below.
Deary - Aurelia
Saw them open for Cranes a year or so ago and have been following them ever since. Very 4ADish and while most people probably say Cocteau I think they’re a bit more rock like Lush in their execution while not sounding like either one. The opening songs on each side of the record “Aurelia”/”The Drift” are probably my favorites.
The Cure - Songs of a Lost World
Have been waiting for the LP for such a long time. While not their best work, it’s definitely the best thing they’ve done in the last decade. If you went to their shows the last couple of years, you heard most of the LP. The ones that were unreleased, I don’t think I cared for. But “Alone” & “Endsong” more than makes up for any of the shortcomings of the rest of the album and why it’s on my list. The LP is like the B-sides from the past 3 albums you wished were actually on the record but inexplicably got cut.
Tremours - Circulation Sound
I’ve been listening to their song “Dark Glasses” regularly for the last year and a half. And just in time to make this list, they released “Circulation Sound” as a single for their upcoming full-length on Little Cloud Records. I’m not sure what genre you’d fit them in and that’s one thing I really like about Tremours. They aren’t just mimicking their influences, but instead bring something new. Love Lauren’s sleepy Sandoval/Reid-styled vocals, laying on top of dreamy guitars and Glenn’s drumming.
Kælan Mikla - Stjörnuljós
I hrt these 3 Icelandic witches. Their new single is synthy dark wave done right. Somehow nostalgic without being carbon copies, which a lot of bands in this genre I feel don't achieve. I’m most in love with their shouty songs. I do admit this new track is more mature musically. I can’t understand a word and it still makes the list.
Cranes - Fuse
Originally available only on cassette in the 80's, the band finally put this out on a format i can listen to in 2024. This is Cranes’ first album re-released and re-mastered for vinyl on their own Dadaphonic label. The sounds are more industrial, harsh beats, experimental in execution and of course Alison Shaw’s helium voice. What deciding you want to be in a band and here's some equipment to give it a go sounds like. A precursor to their Self-Non-Self sound and less like their dream poppy “Jewel” style. You can hear The Birthday Party influence–while it sounds not a thing like The Birthday Party–and not even really like the Cranes that came after.
Listen to Iceblynk’s latest single “Plummet.” Follow the band on Instagram.