I have been enjoying the blendo punk disco hybrid sound of Glass Spells for a few years. As present as the band is especially when performing live it has always felt like their sound doesn't exist in the now but, instead, percolates in both the past and the future at the same time. Their self titled album just dropped and as Away From Space carried me to a different plane of dark vast star ships and mysterious planets I immediately had a sharp tinge of nostalgia and coolness too. It is hard to explain but the runaway beat of Rebellion and the heavy bass that ping pongs from low to high notes and back again of Curse Machine feels like 80's new wave re-imagined. Like flipping through Polaroids there are the ghosts of Interpol, Duran Duran, The Human League, New Order or Siouxsie and the Banshees in the synth flooded thumping majesty of Danger Streets.
Glass Spells sound is so fucking badass while dipping into a sweet comfort of what was before. It is the kind of hazing nostalgic tone I felt while deeply involved with the Netflix runaway hit "Stranger Things". The Duffer Brothers are you listening?? In fact, watch scenes from the series, turn off the sound and play Danger Streets or Rebellion (the line "Slay the monsters" is perfect) and it all fits like a glove. All of the sudden I am hearing Glass Spells in a different way. Without Your Laws feels like a full on proto punk attack existing in 1979 (or maybe 2079) and Young Fun with it's stalking cadence that falls away to the abandon of an intoxicated rave.
When it comes to the public embracing a sound timing is everything. Glass Spells sound feels super relevant right now at least for those who get what is happening. Get it. It is so on point and so rapturously fun.
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Robb Donker
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