"Part of the loosely defined group of modern indie rock bands heavily influenced by first-generation shoegazers like My Bloody Valentine, the Jesus and Mary Chain, the Cocteau Twins, and Slowdive (see also Ringo Deathstarr and Asobi Seksu, among others), San Francisco's Foxtail Somersault sound uncannily like the sort of band that would have been the toast of college radio circa 1990." -- AllMusic.com
"There's been a hefty round of carping in certain circles about the perceived ubiquity of Joy Division as an influence of late, but honestly, people: is this really such a bad thing? What, would you prefer a Men Without Hats revival instead? Besides, many of the faithful followers have brought their own palettes to the 'Love Will Tear Us Apart' tableau. Local heroes Tomihira delve into the familiar blacks and whites associated with the Mancunian lodestars, but on songs such as 'Pillbox' and 'All to Be Undone' -- whooshing and thrumming with My Bloody Valentine and Slowdive textures -- the band also whirls dreamy Maxfield Parrish blues and purples into its blazing melancholia. Best of all, Dean Tomihira's vocals exude an amorous warmth lacking in the current Interpol-Editors axis." --Bay Guardian
"Finally, someone makes this shoegaze revival thing work. Oakland's Vir, formerly called Montana, lays U2-size vocals, melodies, and song structures over sinister, flatline backdrops à la Joy Division. The resulting tension, anchored by singer Sam Sloane's excellent guitar work, creates songs that don't stale." —East Bay Express
Sometimes pegged as shoegaze, "nu-gaze", and even "post-gaze," Tracing Figures fancy themselves a more melodic, ethereal version of 90’s alt rock. They are heavily influenced by pop-tinged artists like Blonde Redhead, M83, The Cure, and Autolux; layering delicate vocals upon soaring melodic guitars, synths, and sampled drum machines.
insolace
FOXTAIL SOMERSAULT
http://foxtailsomersault.com/
"Part of the loosely defined group of modern indie rock bands heavily influenced by first-generation shoegazers like My Bloody Valentine, the Jesus and Mary Chain, the Cocteau Twins, and Slowdive (see also Ringo Deathstarr and Asobi Seksu, among others), San Francisco's Foxtail Somersault sound uncannily like the sort of band that would have been the toast of college radio circa 1990." -- AllMusic.com
Tomihira
http://www.tomihira.com/
"There's been a hefty round of carping in certain circles about the perceived ubiquity of Joy Division as an influence of late, but honestly, people: is this really such a bad thing? What, would you prefer a Men Without Hats revival instead? Besides, many of the faithful followers have brought their own palettes to the 'Love Will Tear Us Apart' tableau. Local heroes Tomihira delve into the familiar blacks and whites associated with the Mancunian lodestars, but on songs such as 'Pillbox' and 'All to Be Undone' -- whooshing and thrumming with My Bloody Valentine and Slowdive textures -- the band also whirls dreamy Maxfield Parrish blues and purples into its blazing melancholia. Best of all, Dean Tomihira's vocals exude an amorous warmth lacking in the current Interpol-Editors axis." --Bay Guardian
Vir
http://www.myspace.com/wearevir
"Finally, someone makes this shoegaze revival thing work. Oakland's Vir, formerly called Montana, lays U2-size vocals, melodies, and song structures over sinister, flatline backdrops à la Joy Division. The resulting tension, anchored by singer Sam Sloane's excellent guitar work, creates songs that don't stale." —East Bay Express
Tracing Figures (cd release!)
http://www.tracingfigures.com
Sometimes pegged as shoegaze, "nu-gaze", and even "post-gaze," Tracing Figures fancy themselves a more melodic, ethereal version of 90’s alt rock. They are heavily influenced by pop-tinged artists like Blonde Redhead, M83, The Cure, and Autolux; layering delicate vocals upon soaring melodic guitars, synths, and sampled drum machines.