Song of the Day: Glimmer – ‘Buried’

Formed less than a year ago, New York newcomers Glimmer have not wasted any time, producing three singles so far. The latest comes in the form of ‘Buried’. Awashed with fuzzed-out guitars and swirling reverb, the track prospers with urgency, allowing the quartet to showcase their brand of “grungegaze”.

Jeff Moore’s timid vocals ideally blend into his and Johnny Nicholls’ surging guitars, with the rhythmic duo of Kevin Dobbins (bass) and Jaye Moore (drums) adding to ‘Buried’ distorted wall of sound in its chorus.

“Buried is about being at your lowest point in life and wanting to escape from everything, including yourself. It’s a figurative take on the only way to do that,” explains Glimmer frontman Jeff Moore. “It was written fairly quickly but a lot of work was put into making it sound the way it does. It was influenced by all of the bands I had been listening to at the time (like Nothing and Narrow Head) plus some of my favorites from the ’90s. I think I was listening to a lot of The Cure at that time as well.”

It’s understandable to see why Moore would identify bands such as Nothing and Narrow Head as influences. However, pioneering shoegaze band My Bloody Valentine and college rockers Dinosaur Jnr can also be heard in ‘Buried’.

The latter band can also be heard on the track’s accompanying b-side. ‘Daydream’, counters ‘Buried’s immediacy with a gentler approach with hushed vocals and clean guitars taking control early on. It eventually gives way to a stirring guitar solo that comfortably dwells in a grunge/90’s alt-rock vein.

Even though this is only Glimmer‘s third single, both ‘Buried’ and ‘Daydream’ show they’re capable of exploring their sound, effortlessly providing a tonal shift. Having worked with producer Jeff Berner on both tracks along with past single, the grunge-heavy ‘Self Destroyed’, Glimmer are working on a debut full-length. They hope to release it later this year.