Phoenix-based shoegaze outfit Glixen returns with their sophomore EP, quiet pleasures, due out February 21, 2025, via AWAL and Wichita Recordings. The five-track exploration of weightless melancholy and immersive noise. Following their breakout with their EP She Only Said (2023), the band has refined their dynamic blend of ethereal melodies and crushing distortion, creating an evocative and deeply textured listening experience. With influences ranging from My Bloody Valentine and Hum to Björk and Godflesh, Glixen continue to push shoegaze into modern territory, crafting soundscapes that are both cavernous and intimately emotional.
The EP opens with the track "shut me down," an instrumental overture that sets a haunting tone for what's to come. Wiry, whirling guitars intertwine with a hypnotic bassline, building a dreamlike soundscape that feels both meditative and restless. This seamless entry into the Glixen universe is a prelude to the emotional turbulence that follows.
"all tied up" follows and bursts forth with an urgency that showcases the band’s ability to balance raw intensity with delicate beauty. Aislinn Ritchie’s plaintive vocals drift above a wall of guitars that churn with controlled chaos, while Keire Johnson’s drumming provides an anchor to the sonic maelstrom. “There’s a subtle tension that builds throughout with a push and pull between the guitars and vocals,” Ritchie explains, and that ebb and flow is palpable, making for one of the EP’s most emotionally gripping moments.
Next is the track, "avoid," and it slows the tempo without sacrificing weight, offering a more introspective take on the band’s signature blend of shoegaze and noise rock. The addition of strong backing vocals adds depth to the track’s hazy, reverb-drenched atmosphere. It’s a brief but deeply affecting moment of reflection amidst the EP’s more turbulent passages.
On "sick silent," Glixen lean further into their heavier tendencies. Featuring additional vocals from guitarist Esteban Santana, the track is a suffocating yet strangely comforting experience, like being wrapped in waves of distortion. Ritchie describes it as “a meadow in a dark forest,” evoking a sense of fleeting serenity amid the track’s stormy intensity. Sonny DiPerri’s production ensures that every element—whether it be the adrenaline-inducing percussion, piercing bass lines, or layers of guitars—coexists in a beautifully orchestrated cacophony.
The EP closes with "lick the star," a track that begins eerily quiet before erupting into a sonic tempest of feedback and melody. Glixen’s ability to toy with silence and noise is on full display here, creating an ending that feels both cathartic and unresolved, leaving the listener yearning for more.
With quiet pleasures, Glixen solidifies themselves as one of the most compelling voices in the modern shoegaze renaissance. Their ability to merge dreamy introspection with an undercurrent of raw, guttural intensity sets them apart from their contemporaries. This EP is not just an evolution but a statement—a declaration that shoegaze, in the hands of Glixen, can be both hauntingly beautiful and powerfully unrelenting. quiet pleasures is sure to resonate deeply with old fans and new listeners alike.