waves crashing - effection

On Effection, the debut full length from Olympia, WA trio Waves Crashing, echoes of early 90s PNW indie rock mix with memories of British Isles shoegaze and contemporary dream rock to form a sound at once familiar yet very much of the moment. Crystalline melodies build tension, blooming into sprays of technicolor distortion. Ethereal soundscapes give way to voluptuous walls of sound, enveloping swooning vocals to build a world at once intimate and grand.

Precisely composed and arranged, meticulously performed, and infused with a palpable sense of the visceral joy of simply playing music.

Since forming in 2019, Josh Calisti (gtr, vox), Bryce Albright (drums), and Zach Olson (bass) have firmly established themselves in the Pacific Northwest alternative scene through a steady stream of releases and regional tours. Calisti grew up in NJ, then bounced to Denver, and finally the Pacific Northwest in a ceaseless pursuit of musical outlet. Bryce Albright started his musical journey in Reno before heading north to the homeland of Washington native Olson.

As Waves Crashing, they have shared the stage with the likes of Bully, Wavves, Ringo Deathstarr, Sun Atoms, and appeared at a brace of regional festivals. Their EP The Viewing came in at #20 on vaunted non-comm radio station KEXP’s “Best of 2023” list, while their follow- up EP Ancora spent six weeks on the NACC Top 200 chart, peaking at #41.

Written at Calisti’s home in the woodlands of Olympia, Effection was recorded at Joshua Charette’s studio in Elma, WA. In addition to Calisti, Albright, and Olson, the record features performances from Charette (bass and synth) and Beatrix Sky (backing vocals). Pablo Martin of the NYC’s Lulu Lewis remixed “Comatose”. Effection will be released via the Neon Sigh and Pleasure Tapes labels.

Effection is a deeply personal and heartfelt journey, about the effects of life. It captures the weight of the world and the anxiety that comes with it, while navigating the emotions of love and loss. The title also reflects the dynamic soundscapes that ebb and flow throughout the album, which adds another layer to its emotional experience.

Put your headphones on, crank the album and take a break from reality for a little while. Complexity and daring experimentation, balanced deftly on the knife-edge of pop accessibility, the record is an absolute delight for those that relish losing themselves in sound.