There has been an increasing number of references to the genre of spacegaze – a highly volatile concoction of shoegaze, psychedelia and dream pop. Vast Asteroid so describe themselves, and it is most appropriate. Their new single, ‘Champaign Ambassadors’, is a shimmering, glittering wall of noise – all reverb and chorus layered over guitars and vocals evoking interstellar exploration and a life embedded in the stars.
The distant echoing, aching vocals are soft and mesmerising, embedded deep amongst the chiming guitars.
Singer James Poulos says of the track:
Some songs come together almost before you can finish writing them, and some recording sessions are the same way —two takes and you’re done. There are layers of melodies and arrangements in this song that we’ve had with us in various shapes for years. There are things from the writing and recording of the previous full length, and then other things from just a few months ago.
The accompanying video, filmed and directed by Christian Stephen, is a beautifully shot black and white series of images – mixing antiquity with modernity and an evocative last shot of the ubiquitous facemark flying off an imperious statue’s head:
This is lovely music and lovely imagery.
Vast Asteroid have a fascinating heritage: the band’s line-up is composed of The Warlocks’s bassist Mimi Star, the Slaughter And The Dogs drummer Mark Reback, and singer and guitarist James Poulos.
Out now through Athens-based ThinkBabyMusic, you can get the single through the link below:
