Celebrated Belgian shoegazers Slow Crush have revealed ‘Billow’, the B-side to their previously released single/video ‘Blue’.
Of the song, the band comment: “Both songs were recorded during the recording session of our new album Hush. ‘Billow’ didn’t make the cut because it didn’t fit the flow of the album as a whole anymore since we try to tell a story on an album. Every song has it’s spot and Hush wouldn’t work for us in any other progression or order of songs.
‘Billow’ was supposed to be the song right after ‘Blue’ so it made sense to release them together as a single because they still work and fit side by side. It’s a song stark with contrast, up-tempo but collapsing down every few measures. It’s this exact contrast that helped to shape the lyrics to the song or visa versa. Finding your own path and the struggle through hardships of life however big or small they might be.”
The result of songs written between tours, with unexpected downtime in the chaos of a pandemic, Hush showcases recurring Slow Crush themes, first demonstrated on their debut LP Aurora (2018). Slow Crush fully flex their creative muscles with another truly impressive sonic display on Hush – wistful longing and tranquil bearing contrasting beautifully with cascading echoes of glorious noise.
Some of the band’s darkest and yet most hope-filled music to date – Hush is their proverbial calm before the storm. Radiating warmth through a haze of abrasive layered guitars and the beautiful soul of Isa Holliday’s vocals, Hush surpasses Slow Crush’s highly-acclaimed debut album Aurora in both songwriting and musicianship.
Following the acclaim of Aurora (now on its fourth vinyl pressing), Slow Crush toured nonstop for eighteen months, with the likes of Pelican, Torche, Soft Kill, Gouge Away and playing festivals like Roadburn, Arctangent, 2000Trees, Groez Rock.
Like the rest of the world, Covid-19 severely impacted the band’s plans – but they turned it to their advantage. Cancelling two European tours and one last-minute US tour was a blessing in disguise, allowing Slow Crush to regroup and rethink in a turbulent period.
Musically and lyrically Hush takes a slightly darker path, touching on the events and issues of the past year. Hush was recorded mid-pandemic in January 2021 in Ghent, Belgium, in whirling rain and snow. As with Aurora, Hush has the intensity and guile to fully envelop the listener, allowing them to form their own narrations of the story the band weave throughout.
Slow Crush are:
Isa Holliday
Jelle Harde Ronsmans
Frederick Meeuwis
Jeroen Jullet
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Watch Slow Crush live:
North American tour 2022:
with special guests Cathedral Bells, Deserta, SOM
APR 08 Knitting Factory BROOKLYN, NY
APR 09 Sonia CAMBRIDGE, MA
APR 10 Songbyrd WASHINGTON, DC
APR 12 Canal Club RICHMOND, VA
APR 13 Local 506 CHAPEL HILL, NC
APR 14 New Brookland Tavern COLUMBIA, SC
APR 15 Vinyl ATLANTA, GA
APR 16 Archetype JACKSONVILLE, FL
APR 18 Henao Center ORLANDO, FL
APR 20 House of blues NEW ORLEANS, LA
APR 22 Secret group HOUSTON, TX
APR 23 Meanwhile AUSTIN, TX
APR 24 Three links DALLAS, TX
APR 26 Rebel lounge PHOENIX, AZ
APR 28 Soda bar SAN DIEGO, CA
APR 29 Lodge room LOS ANGELES, CA
APR 30 Constellation room SANTA ANA, CA
MAY 01 The Independent SAN FRANCISCO, CA
MAY 05 Fox Cabaret VANCOUVER, BC
MAY 06 Funhouse SEATTLE, WA
MAY 07 Hawthorne lounge PORTLAND, OR
MAY 09 Kilby Court SALT LAKE CITY, UT
MAY 10 Hi-dive DENVER, CO
MAY 12 7th street entry MINNEAPOLIS, MN
MAY 13 Cobra lounge CHICAGO, IL
MAY 14 Hoosier dome INDIANAPOLIS, IN
MAY 15 The loving touch FERNDALE, MI
MAY 17 Big room bar COLUMBUS, OH
MAY 18 Mahall’s LAKEWOOD, OH
MAY 20 Monarch tavern TORONTO, ON
MAY 21 Club saw OTTAWA, ON
MAY 22 Bar le ritz MONTREAL, QC
MAY 24 Foundry @ The Fillmore PHILADELPHIA, PA
European tour:
JUN 12 Nochtwache HAMBURG, DE
JUN 13 Poglos WARSAW, PL
JUN 17 Orangehouse MUNICH, DE
JUN 18 Kulturak BRATISLAVA, SK
JUN 19 Robot BUDAPEST, HU
JUN 21 Urban Spree BERLIN, DE
JUN 22 Blue Shell KOLN, DE
UK tour:
with Mannequin Pussy
JUN 25 Outbreak Fest, MANCHESTER, UK
JUN 26 Broadcast GLASGOW, UK
JUN 27 Brudenell social club LEEDS, UK
JUN 28 Bodega NOTTINGHAM, UK
JUN 30 Elsewhere MARGATE, UK
JUL 01 Green door store BRIGHTON, UK
JUL 02 clwb ifor bach CARDIFF, UK
JUL 03 Hare & Hounds 2 BIRMINGHAM, UK
JUL 05 Future Yard BIRKENHEAD, UK
AUG Arctangent – BRISTOL, UK
SEP Furnace Fest – BIRMINGHAM, AL
SEP Washed out festival BRIGHTON, UK
OCT AMfest BARCELONA, SP
