MATHIAS ENGWALL is no stranger to these pages, though a relative newcomer; based in Gothenburg, he’s enthralled, like so many of us, by the heady twin rushes of dreampop and shoegaze, his particular vision of which he introduced us to in November gone with “Reverie Neverending”, a lovely slice of ‘gazey pop with a little nod to Kevin Shields in those microtonal guitar bends (find our piece on that tune here).
He’s learnt his trade over at the other side of the soundproof glass, producing, mixing and mastering – but he’s all set to release an album for US indie Declared Goods this year, entitled Nevereverie.
He’s followed that earlier single up with a second song from the long player, “Golden Soul”, a dreamy and halcyon guitar glide, which you can watch the lyric video for below; and which ventures out toward high psychedelic pop circa 1968, which is also a very lovely world. If bands like Millennium and Eternity’s Children, Simon Dupree & The Big Sound, early Unknown Mortal Orchestra and MGMT float your multicoloured world, step right in.
“I wanted to channel my fascination for orchestral pop from the Sixties with some jagged trebly guitars and hazy dreamlike vocals”, says Mathias.
“‘Golden Soul’ is a break-up song. It’s about the feelings that come with a separation – the strong sensation of being selfish for wanting it to happen.
“If you are the one wanting the break-up, you feel that you are somehow the winner when it happens. But that win comes with a heavy price.
“You end up with all the gold, but what you sold is a bit of your good nature, because you hurt someone in the process. It’s a win with a very bitter aftertaste.”
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