Still Ruins: S/T EP

From time to time, we all tend to gravitate towards certain styles of artistic expression while being blasé about others in what could be considered subconscious bias. What is sometimes unavoidable, however, is that regardless of styles or scenes, there are just some bands that scratch the itch you thought you never had.

Enter Still Ruins. Formed in 2018, the Oakland three-piece, consisting of Frankie Soto, Jose Medina, and Cyrus VandenBerghe, are exponents of the kind of dream wave that stays with you for days on end. On their debut self-titled EP, the only inevitable thing to do is press play again, again, and again.

What Still Ruins do on their debut release is take the essence of Roxy Music’s Avalon and intersect it with the melodic textures of The Chameleons. A throw-back concern, however this is the kind of nostalgia that does wonders for the soul, making you realise why you fell in love with music in the first place.

Opening track Silhouette is a love song with all the twists and turns of new wave with the smell of leather overriding hairspray (“Into your shadow / Show me where to go”). Perfect Blue follows and is like stepping through the door to a new weird world you never thought you’d see. It’s dream pop with a new rich cadence that feels like a dopamine hit.

And in that state, Until Then is a mixture of Chameleon worship with a whiff of a dark wave daydream, coming to a sparkling climax with closing number, Left Against. “I will always be the jester / It was hard to make you laugh,” sings Soto in what could well be the first time such a figure is referenced as the focal point in a love song. The song itself, an instant rush of splendour possessing all the hallmarks of a band that are going places sooner rather than later.

Still Ruins is a worthy taster from a band making a fresh brand of new wave music. Darkened with tone and texture and unafraid to wear hearts on sleeves, Still Ruins fly the flag for dark wave with flair and vigour. I can’t wait to hear what’s next.

S/T is out now via Smoking Room (Vinyl) / Cercle Social Records (Cassette). Purchase from Bandcamp.