In 2016, White Shape burst onto the scene with their self-titled EP, adding fresh energy to the growing psych movement taking root in the Northern Illinois scene. Following that came Chromestheia (2017) and Perfect Dark (2019), as the band evolved and honed its ethereal psych/shoegaze sound.
After the departure of two founding members, Josh Weidman and Alyssa Hall took the helm and charted a new course. Their latest creation came from the turbulence of those changes and the pandemic times we all lived through: Through The Lupine. The new record is due for release on October 25th.
The new album is unmistakably White Shape: brooding and atmospheric, with Hall’s signature vocals expanding to fill the air like an enveloping mist and a storytelling architecture that invites you to dive deep into the music and construct your own inner worlds.
Yet, something new lingers beneath the surface of the familiar. No one emerged from those pandemic times untouched, and neither did White Shape.
There’s a shift, a subtle but profound change that is most evident in the previously released “Knives Down.” The track has a serene sound bordering on ambient, with relaxing tones and vocals that gently wrap their arms around you.
“Dawn Chorus” is also slow and soft, bringing the same drifting-on-a-cloud energy. Josh and Alyssa call to us from the other side of the haze, beckoning us to lay down our troubles and let the music wash over us. “Veil Piercer” follows suit; the rock edge is gone, the sharp edges are softened, and while they may be gazing at their shoes and guitar pedals, there’s no sense of aggression – only peace and serenity.
The beauty of Through The Lupine lies in its openness to interpretation. It offers long-time fans everything they love but with a twist—more complexity, evolution, and depth. White Shape has evolved, and with them, so too has the space they create for their listeners to transcend, explore, and transform.
Check out the singles available from the new record, and while you’re at it, enjoy White Shape’s previous work, including 2019’s Perfect Dark.
Pre-order Through the Lupine by White Shape on Bandcamp here.
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