Tuscon, AZ based trio Female Gaze goes in at the deep end with their album Tender Futures, a concept record inspired by the serious health issues of Nelene DeGuzman, who had to wait for months on end to finally receive long overdue surgery. Days and nights went by and it gave her plenty of time to come up with the idea of a continuous set of songs that should enjoyed in one undisturbed sitting.
Taking elements of post-rock, shoegaze, indie rock and a few field recordings and radio broadcasts sprinkled on top, the trio created an intricate maze of transcendent drones and repetitive guitar motifs. It is an immersive listening experience, best enjoyed by either wearing decent headphones or in a room with good acoustics and serious speakers. There are barely any vocals, especially in two lengthy center pieces, Broadcast and the album's title track, but when DeGuzman does step up to the mike, she makes every word count.
Female Gaze:
Nelene DeGuzman: guitar, piano, vocals
Kevin Conklin: bass
Nicky David Cobham-Morgese: drums, percussion, synths
Rosie Clements: Synth (track #2 & #3)
Tender Futures will be released via Fort Lowell Records (hand-numbered - 100 copies - red vinyl, digital). Release date: May 17.
Tracks:- Ghosts
- Broadcast
- Tender Futures
- In the Mezzanine
- Severance
- 05/17 Tucson, AZ @ MOCA - *Tender Futures Record Release Show*
- 05/24 Tucson, AZ @ Blondie's - *Tender Futures Film Screening*
- 05/31 Las Cruces, NM @ The Lighthouse
- 06/01 Lamy, NM @ Lamy Taproom
- 06/02 Silver City, NM @ Whiskey Creek Zocalo
- 06/05 Phoenix, AZ @ Linger Longer
- 06/06 San Diego, CA @ The Comet Theater
- 06/07 Ojai, CA @ Greater Goods
- 06/08 San Francisco, CA @ The Make Out Room
- 06/09 Los Angeles, CA @ Healing Force Records
- 06/15 Tucson, AZ @ Che's Lounge