La Casa Al Mare’s This Astro is a modern-day shoegaze masterpiece. Four of the tracks were released as digital singles in 2014, then, a year later, these, plus 2 more appeared on CD. The set has now been expanded to 10 titles, and finally given a vinyl pressing by Berlin-based label, Dreams Never End. 

At the time of This Astro’s initial release I was completely obsessed with the piece called Tonight Or Never. To the extent that, while it was brand new, I included in a list of old songs that I intended to write short stories about. A softly strummed, lovelorn lullaby, full of angsty innocence, the pain of being pure of heart, it seemed perfect soundtrack material. Perfect for my romantic, unrequited, “Why don’t nice girls like me?” ramblings. However, everything on the album is a work of art.

The Italian trio, hailing from Rome, do, by far, the best recreation of My Bloody Valentine / Kevin Shields’ see-sawing guitar I’ve ever heard. Raising a roaring multi-layered rush of tremolo’d distortion that seems to simultaneously speed up and slow down. Constructing cathartic walls, sheets, of psychedelic 6-string noise, while their melodies are, miraculously, ethereal and angelic. Like the Cocteau Twins on steroids. 

There are dive-bombing drones, and rhythms like James Brown’s Funky Drummer being beaten out, off in the distance. On At All, bastardised, blasted Beach Boys / West Coast harmonies mix with wilder Dinosaur Jr. / J. Mascis thrash. Its Freak Scene-esque lyric, heart on its sleeve, asking “Don’t you know you make my day?” Still Burn starts beatles, before hitting ignition and taking flight as a space rock epic. Crazy drums crashing. The bass-line doing its darnedest to ground and steer its terrific trajectory. 

CD Girl is another standout. A fantastic flashback to 1993 that had me high and spinning. (Totally) wasted at a teenage house party. Alone in a crowd like an ecstatic / E-ed up extra from the video for Slowdive’s Alison. Stoned, zoned, silent, watching, far removed. A head full of dreams, A world packed with possibility. In love with someone who never even notices you staring. 

La Casa Al Mare’s This Astro is out now on Dreams Never End. It makes a very cool companion to Belver Yin’s recent “Cocteaus-homaging” Efficient Space set. Honestly, I’m so happy that this vinyl moment has come. When the CD was first released I actually contacted the band, and tried to convince them to do a Qrates kickstarter. If I’d had the cash, I’d have paid for it myself. 

If you’re into your shoegaze then I’m sure you’ll already have checked Slowdive’s new album, Everything Is Alive, which is also fucking brilliant.