4Vesta officially checks all my required boxes. They possess everything I like about Shoegaze and Dream Pop: melancholy chord progressions, sweet, ghostly female vocals, and overall mood-altering, ambient tuneage. They're right up there with some of my favorites, Slowdive, Dead Leaf Echo, Lucy Dreams, and My Bloody Valentine.
“Static EP” is 4V's third release in two years. The title track "Static" stays true to the genre, with notes being bent, ever so slightly flat, while "Overnite" has a post-punk feel to it. "Undersleep" drones along beautifully, and then seems to slowly spray out of a fountain. While I'm unable to make out any of the words, the lack of lyric distinction allows the listener to focus on the overall feel and shape of the songs. I highly recommend you check out all their releases because each has a unique flavor unto themselves, yet the small catalog is totally cohesive. Their debut “Light & Chemicals” has a harder edge, while their second release, “gleamglowglint” is more Brian Jonestown Massacre-esque.
As some of you may know, I like to partake in the “plant meds" from time to time, and let me tell you, the machine elves are big 4Vesta fans, too! 4Vesta has a mystique, in which we never learn the names of its players and there are only a couple images of the band online.
Best wishes to this mysterious Brooklyn act. Keep the songs coming, because I’ll be listening!
- Spencer Dipthorpe, BMN Contributor