Interview with Pat Vaz

Interview with Pat Vaz

Interview with Pat Vaz

Daydream Nation Bella Vendetta (Elephant Stone) Now here’s a band with an Italian fixation and a half. In fact I’m a bit concerned about reviewing this just in case they find my review disrespectful and I later find myself unable to get into my bed due to a horses head being strategically placed inside there. Rumours flying around that they refer to each other as ‘Tony’ are completely unfounded at the time of going to press. For evidence of their Italian fixation you need to look no further than the title of their album and the cover. The exact translation for the title of their album is sweet revenge which is not so much a title as a statement of intent, and their album features a picture of Italian actress Monica Bellucci on the cover thus providing a tip for all new bands who are just starting out. If you’re having trouble trying to get your music heard, stick a picture of Monica Bellucci on the front, it’s damn sure to make a statement – the only thing is if you’re going to attempt this approach just make sure the music is as attention grabbing as the cover. In this case fortunately, the music is pretty good – in fact it’s very good. This cd hasn’t been out of my player since the day it came through the post. The album kicks off with Neon, a fine album opener by any standards. The sound is very dreamy but at the same time, it’s HUGE! They have been described as stadium shoegaze. Stadium? Yes! Shoegaze? No – Daydream Nation are stargazers – they’re thinking BIG here - know what I mean? Given the right set of circumstances this band could be massive. They certainly have the potential. You want evidence? Just listen to A New Dawn and Satellites and then look me in the eye and tell me this is not a band with burning ambitions. Their appeal is displayed clearly here in these songs for all to see. I can’t help feeling though that this allbum has been released at the wrong time of year. These are pure lazy day summer anthems. The band themselves are going for a big sound which is to be applauded and flies in the face of the indie-underachievers and their inverse snobbery. While wanting to be big is not everything, I can’t help but feel admiration for bands that aspire to such dizzy heights. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to be the best. In fact, in a way they remind me of prime-time Oasis, Definitely Maybe-era. Their ‘Passing Notion’ track, a personal highlight for me and soon to be featured on the forthcoming Northern Stars compilation Psychedelica Vol. I, gives you the same feeling as when you first heard ‘Slide Away.’ Now Oasis are a lost cause, but at the time, when they hit it, they hit it and so do Daydream Nation. Incidentally this band are made up of ex-members of the Brian Jonestown Massacre and The Warlocks and as much as I love BJM bare very little resemblance to them apart from the fact this is just great music. Daydream Nation – I reckon they could have it all if they really wanted it bad enough…. —Scott Causer (November 2005)

Kapital Ink Magazine

Daydream Nation Bella Vendetta (Elephant Stone) That's right, they named themselves after the Sonic Youth album, and it's updated psych in a semi-Jonestown vein only w/ a more aerodynamic hovering quality than Jonestown's coming-apart-at-the-seams acid bath. This owes a lot to the flailing gutiar majesty of such ethereal eighties pyramid-builders as Echo & The Bunnymen, U2 and the Church (the opener "Neon," sounds like the bastard child of Hawkwind and U2) w/ the static heaviness of My Bloody Valentine/Viva Saturn/Lush laying over the whole thing like a blanket that the BRMC might've all slept underneath in an alley somewhere…which all adds up to a swinging hallucinatory good time o' course. They will be vindicated. —Joe S. Harrington (July 2005)

Daydream Nation Bella Vendetta (Elephant Stone) Di Daydream Nation dicemmo in occasione dell’eponimo debutto e con piacere verifichiamo che anche l’odierno “Bella Vendetta” persegue sia pur solo inizialmente scie shoegazing anche se con l’imperto ed il vigore, con vibrazioni acide, che in quelle stagioni fu specifica peculiarità di Swervedriver. La band canadese, in line-up ufficiale ridotta a due elementi, con Pat Vaz, unico del trio originale rimasto, c’è Hunter Crowley, già Warlocks e Brian Jonestown Massacre, brilla nelle sature foalte di Neon e A New Dawn come nelle evoluzioni dreampop di Satellites e Oceans, giocandosi abilmente anche la non meno nostalgica carta brit-pop in direzione Oasis/Verve in A Passing Notion e Stop The Clocks. (7/10) —Paolo Bertoni (April 2005)

Daydream Nation Bella Vendetta (Elephant Stone) I chided the quite nice debut from these Canadian neo-gazers for paying more homage than absolutely necessary to their 1991 shoegazing heroes. Sophomore effort, Bella Vendetta, works at allaying my concern with this by bringing into the mix another UK pop movement, Brit-pop. The blending of the distant emotional stoicism of the gazers with the drama and emotional bombast of the likes of Oasis is a somewhat surprising exercise in pop alchemy, but guitarist/songwriter Pat Vaz (who basically is Daydream Nation at this point) creates a surprisingly charming sound. The flooded sonic aesthetics of the shoegazers is the basis for these songs, but there is little navel gazing here. The three most rocking cuts are sequenced up front, and, in particular, opener “Neon” is a fine example of what should not have been lost in the mid-nineties Brit-pop frenzy. It’s the best of Oasis’ pop sensibility, had they paid a bit more attention to the path of Swervedriver. A strummed acoustic ballad (and not the only one), the title track sits mid-record. “Oceans” is a laid back wonder of soaring and swooping guitar, hovering over a rhythmic bed of jangles. Second records are precarious, but Daydream Nation have delivered a fine, listenable album. —Michael Meade (April 2005)

Daydream Nation Bella Vendetta (Elephant Stone) Ambassadors of good taste, Elephant Stone Records, have done it again with Daydream Nation and their excellent new full-length album "Bella Vendetta". Although named after the classic 1988 Sonic Youth album, this duo's (Pat Vaz on Vocals/Guitars and Hunter Crowley on Drums) don't seem heavily influenced by that band's experimental art-damaged sound. Instead, their sound fits in perfectly with the kind of dark shoegaze-y psychedelia currently coming from the West Coast scene that spawned them. This makes perfect sense once you learn that Crowley, like most people in that scene, spent time in both The Brian Jonestown Massacre and The Warlocks, and current members of BJM and Beachwood Sparks show up to lend a hand, and a bass, on a few tracks. Perhaps the closest musical reference here is the Black Rebel Motorcycle club, who also count a refugee from the BJM camp among their ranks (Peter Hayes). In addition to a shared heritage, the two groups share a love of spaced-out psychedelic guitar sounds and effects-manipulated vocals. The biggest difference is that Daydream Nation incorporates an arena-ready classic rock/Brit-pop vibe into their music (think Soundtrack of Our Lives or Oasis) which BRMC lacks. On several tracks choruses swell and repeat in a way which should make it hard for the band to keep a low-key profile for much longer. The album starts off on a high note with a trio of songs that are difficult to resist ("Neon", "The Everlasting" and personal favorite "A New Dawn"). After two more similar sounding songs things start to sound a bit same-y (if still pretty good), but the band quickly throw you for a loop with the short acoustic title track "Bella Vendetta" which helps keep things fresh. There's also a country tinge to "Oceans" which comes courtesy of some well-placed slide guitar work from BJM's Rob Campanella. Closing track "Untitled" brings you gently back down to earth with some atmospheric keyboards and languid vocals that turn the song into a space-y lullaby of sorts. This is definitely of the better albums I've heard so far in 2005. Hopefully one that will earn the band the wider audience it deserves. —David Mansdorf (March 2005)

Daydream Nation Bella Vendetta (Elephant Stone) Everyone needs a few good Brit-Rock CD’s in their collection, and if Oasis’ latest releases are leaving you a little depressed, look no further than Daydream Nation’s recent release, Bella Vendetta. While most of the Bella Vendetta teeters on the subtler, more sensitive and atmospheric side of Brit-Rock, Daydream Nation also shows their rock chops are in fine fashion with a number of more aggressive, uptempo songs. In fact Bella Vendetta is so polished, and sounds so authentically British, that it might come as a surprise that Daydream Nation actually hails from Canada (Ottawa, to be exact), and that the band has never had a major breakthrough anywhere in the world in terms of radio play or record sales. Of course, the lack of airplay that a CD like Bella Vendetta garners is to the detriment of music listeners everywhere, because Daydream Nation plays an enjoyable and endearing brand of music that is accessible while not losing its underground feel. Bella Vendetta begins with the great opening rock number “Neon”, which features a catchy melody, driving guitars, and a dose of sneering attitude. “Neon” is a clear example of the mid-90’s Brit-rock sound that Daydream Nation plays, reinterpreted for the 2000’s. The song is a great introduction to Daydream Nation’s liquid guitar lines and the understated vocal delivery of lead singer Pat Vaz. The thunderous “The Everlasting” follows with a pulsating rhythm and a display of all-around attitude of swagger from the band. As on the whole of Bella Vendetta, Vaz’s vocals are never over-strained or forced. Rather, he comfortably sings melodies well-suited to his high baritone range, and carefully sticks to his strength in delivering subtle nuances in his singing. Another quick rocker of a song in “A New Dawn” has the band seething and posturing all over the track, while never overdoing their attitude to the point of cheesiness. The ability to convey rock attitude in a nearly reckless way gives Daydream Nation a strong measure of legitimacy. But, just when the band, whose sound on the first three songs sounded like a cross between the retro-rock of The Soundtrack of Our Lives and mid-90’s Brit-Rock, turns on its head for “A Passing Notion” (and indeed for the rest of the CD). On “A Passing Notion”, Daydream Nation plays a lush-sounding and slower brand of their rock, incorporating keys and a sensitivity not present on the previous tracks. On this song, and the ones following it, I am reminded of a more toned down Oasis, as the songs retain their Brit-Rock influence while being expansive and contemplative. After a delicious 6+ minutes, the smooth “A Passing Notion” fades, and “Stop the Clocks” begins with a similar vibe (though sounding a tad more aggressive with busy drumming by Hunter Crowley. Droning guitar sounds accompany the strong melodies on this track, and while the sneering attitude of the previous songs is largely absent, the band still retains their confidence and musical sensitivity. The title song is a short acoustic number accompanied by bells and distant affected guitar lines, with a memorable melody and a repeating line of “I’m alright”. Despite the brevity and relative simplicity of the song, it still resonates as a highpoint on Bella Vendetta. The radio-ready “Satellites” follows with another likeable melody and solid playing by the band. With slide guitars, a slower tempo, and layers of guitars, “Oceans” indeed conjures up mental images of gentle waves and sea breezes. The whole track sways gently under the beautiful songwriting and layers of sound. “Runaway” is another slower, gentler song that is expertly written and played, and “Untitled” rounds out Bella Vendetta with another softer song that has an appealing melody and an overall lusher vibe. Bella Vendetta is the sound of an experienced rock band who has taken the time to craft excellent songs and drape them in perfect instrumentation. Daydream Nation has the poise and confidence of rock veterans, and yet are able to still write fresh-sounding songs. While the Brit-Rock vibe of many of the songs may sound dated to some ears, a careful listen to Bella Vendetta will reveal a collection of 10 high quality songs that would be at home on any decent radio station. Hopefully this solid release will give Daydream Nation the attention they certainly deserve. —Brent (January 2005)

Daydream Nation Bella Vendetta (Elephant Stone) Following up last year's self-titled debut, Bella Vendetta finds the core duo of Daydream Nation, Pat Vaz (guitar/vocals) & Hunter Crowley (former drummer for The Warlocks & Brian Jonestown Massacre) steadily evolving their arena shoegazer sound. Production wise, this record is more polished with a sharper focus on the crisp waves of guitar complementary to Vaz's elegant and subtle singing style without burying the keyboards that distinguish DN from most other shoegazer outfits. "A Passing Notion," is the epic-crowning jewel with its emotionally gripping melodies, hints of keyboards and violin, ala The Verve. Another outstanding track, "Stop The Clocks," features Brent Rademaker (The Tyde & Beachwood Sparks) on bass. The Swervedriver comparisons may be inevitable, but are ultimately a compliment. —Rita Neyter (January 2005)

Daydream Nation Bella Vendetta (Elephant Stone) Pat Vaz’s tunes and vocals are reminiscent of early Swervedriver, while Hunter Crowley’s production recalls Be Here Now-era Oasis, minus the vitamin C-addled excess. Now if they’d only tour.... —Robert Cherry (December 2004)

Daydream Nation Bella Vendetta (Elephant Stone) First impression Canadian shoegazers rock it up a notch on second album Where you’re likely to hear this CD College radio Song you should pick to play on the jukebox "Neon" Drinking Partners BRMC, Brian Jonestown Massacre, The Cure The Morning After Despite the occasional cliched lyric (and highjacked band name), Bella Vendetta could be used as a blueprint for future bands who want to craft a nearly perfect rock record. Including elements of The Beatles and Rolling Stones, crossing them with Eighties British new wave and early Nineties shoegaze, Daydream Nation's songs are an ingenious collection that shimmers with feel-good promise. Both guitarist/vocalist Pat Vaz and drummer Hunter Crowley (formerly of both Brian Jonestown Massacre and The Warlocks) know cool music, and with L.A. scenesters Brent Rademaker (Frausdots, Beachwood Sparks), Dave Koenig (Brian Jonestown Massacre), and Rob Campanella (Brian Jonestown Massacre) contributing their expertise, Bella Vendetta expectedly exudes "cool"--each tune is laid-back, catchy, and melodic. The album's opener, "Neon," is the perfect single. With its piercing guitars and a poppy, sing-along chorus, in another world the song would be a huge worldwide hit. Daydream Nation doesn't shy away from its influences--it embraces them. "A New Dawn" is The Cure covering "(Don't Fear) The Reaper," "The Everlasting" sounds like a stripped-down Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, and Oasis probably wishes it could still make a song like "A Passing Notion." Somehow, "Bella Vendetta" and "Satellites" manage to eek out a combination of The Jesus and Mary Chain and Fig Dish. Comparisons aside, Bella Vendetta firmly stands on its own as a great album, and ranks right alongside any of its better-known contemporaries. Daydream Nation have definitely created a contender for one of the best releases of 2004. —David Cobb (December 2004)

Daydream Nation Bella Vendetta (Elephant Stone) Each song on this Canadian duo's second album is laid-back and melodic, with hints of The Cult circa 1985 mixed with classic British Invasion-era rock, early Nineties shoegaze, and a shot of underground credibility. Do not miss out on this album. Standout track: "Neon" —David Cobb (December 2004)

Daydream Nation Bella Vendetta (Elephant Stone) Last month I wrote about the great Cleveland-based label Elephant Stone Records and one of the bands that I mentioned was on their roster was Daydream Nation. Well I have been listening to their latest CD Bella Vendetta incessantly over the last few days and I really like it. With comparisons to everyone from prime time Oasis and Soundtrack of our Lives to Swervedriver and the Jesus and Mary Chain, this is the best Britpop ever to emerge out of …..Canada. Check out Neon and A Passing Moment from Bella Vendetta and once you’ve experienced those download some of the other great tunes off of their debut album on their Sounds page. Great swirling, thick guitars. Gotta love it. —Mark Boudreau (November 2004)

Daydream Nation Daydream Nation Bella Vendetta (Elephant Stone) The young Kitten P used to be in a ‘band’ called Daydream Scene. We ‘formed’ around the time Daydream Nation (the album) was released. Like lots of folk at the time, we regarded Sonic Youth as our Holy Grail. Add to that a devotion to The Jesus & Mary Chain, My Bloody Valentine, Spacemen Three, Pixies, Loop…and you get the prototype for what became known as ‘shoegazing’. Daydream Scene trickled away, but other kids who’d gone through the same process as us ended up being The Telescopes and Ride and then it all got a bit more watered down and you got Chapterhouse ‘n’ (yikes!) Revolver ‘n’ stuff. Fast forward to er, now and outside of the UK (Daydream Nation are Canadian, but see also Yanks like The Stratford 4) there’s this continuing preoccupation with photocopying the sound of Young (middle) England circa 1991. I’m not sure its strictly necessary, but still, I’m a sucker for this kind of thing, especially as autumn draws in. Those hazy washes of beamed-in guitar act as the perfect aural equivalent of comfort eating. You feel a touch guilty for loving it, but you can’t help rummaging in the tin for just one more effects pedal plastered tune. Drums rattle, reverb strobes, chords bloom and settle into layers of sound and in accordance with the big book of shoe-gazey cliches, vacant, non-specific druggy references abound; ‘Trying to get so high’ ‘take me higher and higher’, ‘higher than everyone’, ‘so high up on the sun’.Daydream Nation have apparently received stick for their name, like, how dare they deem themselves worthy? If you’re gonna name yourself after a beloved religious artefact, you’d better be prepared to front it out. Daydream Nation obviously don’t give a fig or they’re a bit mental ‘cos then they go and compound the ‘error’ by calling a song on their eponymous debut album, ‘Swastika Eyes’. Blimey. It’s not like that’s an everyday phrase like 'I Love You' or something is it? Chris Roberts once wrote of Ultra Vivid Scene naming a song 'The Mercy Seat' (not long after Nick Cave had), “If I wrote a book next week I’d have too much pride to entitle it ‘The Great Gatsby’ or ‘Tropic Of Cancer’. I mean wouldn’t you?” I remember this as I listen to ‘Swastika Eyes’ which is pretty much the exact opposite of the teeth-grinding whiteout of the Primal Scream song. Daydream Nation seem to be extolling the concept that the opposite of love is indifference, reverbed to the max, looming in and out of a penumbra of fuzz. On the new album ‘Bella Vendetta’ (‘Beautiful Revenge’ innit?) Daydream Nation have put a tiger in their tank. ‘Grrrr’ they go on opener, ‘Neon’, ‘we can do that garage-tinged fuzz-face dimstar-rock as good as BRMC.’ Then they sink back on their velvet cushions and go ‘Aaah, now hear our dazed guitars and swoon.’ So we do ‘cos there’s nowt on the telly and it’s good fun riding the waves of this voluptuous music, like spinning round deliberately making yourself dizzy and then lying on the grass and watching the cloudy sky buckle. RRRG: Unlikely blessed rage —(October 2004)

High Bias Magazine

Daydream Nation Bella Vendetta (Elephant Stone) Guitarist/vocalist Pat Vaz and drummer Hunter Crowley (late of the Brian Jonestown Massacre and the Warlocks) call what they do "arena shoegaze," and that's pretty dead on. The duo (joined by pals from the BJM and Beachwood Sparks) erects lustrous towers of psychedelic guitar wash over a foundation of steady rhythms. Melodies sweep out of the sky like a snowstorm, as Vaz lets his plainspoken croon ride the updrafts and flurries. Aficionados of early 90s bands like Ride and Swervedriver can start salivating now, as well they should: this style hasn't been done this well since its early days. Not many bands can make tunes like "The Everlasting" drift and kick ass as well as Daydream Nation. —Michael Toland (October 2004)

Daydream Nation Bella Vendetta (Elephant Stone) Second straight Daydream Nation release that get's the prestigious Parasol Five-Star Rating.

Daydream Nation Bella Vendetta (Elephant Stone) “Bella Vendetta” is Daydream Nation's sophomore release. This Canadian crew consists of ex-members of The Warlocks, Brian Jonestown Massacre, Beachwood Sparks, and The Tyde. Their psychedelic sound also brings some flavor that The Verve, Jesus and Mary Chain, and Spiritualized achieved so well. Their dark, gritty sound is a sweet blend of noise captured oh so elegantly. You can hear touches of an old love for 60's psych. records blended with a modern shoegaze sound. At times their songs are uplifting (“A New Direction”), then take a chilled and dreamy direction (“A Passing Notion”). The only problem with this band is that the cd is so damn good that I can't get it off of my cd player in order to start reviewing other peeps records. —Lio (October 2004)

Daydream Nation Bella Vendetta (Elephant Stone) Daydream Nation's debut was enjoyable if by-the-numbers neo-psych/shoegaze, which raised an understandable question — if this was all the group could do, was any more necessary? The follow-up, Bella Vendetta, delivers a definite maybe of an answer, with a band lineup change and more straightforward rock-out charge providing something different but not necessarily immediately more distinct. Only Pat Vaz from the original trio remains, still handling the basic frontman role on vocals and guitars, while Hunter Crowley takes over on drums as the only other permanent member. He brings a full-bodied, satisfying boost in his role — the loud, steady stomp on songs like "Neon" and "Runaway" keeps everything moving. Vaz's guitar work adds the occasional mesmerizing filigree of sound — the various breaks on "The Everlasting," the blend of acoustic and electric on the title track — while John Hennessey's contributions on keyboards contribute some reasonable lushness here and there as well, such as the end of "A Passing Notion." If nothing else Vaz and company show without question that they love their various antecedents almost to a fault — the Church on the one hand and the rockier end of the Creation roster circa 1991 on the other. Once or twice it really all comes together, as with the combination loud stormer and wistful beauty of "A New Dawn," which probably sounds incredible live. Still, this is ultimately pleasant and enjoyable rather than the hot-wiring of various strands that made their own sources of inspiration so deservedly recognized. —Ned Raggett (October 2004)

Daydream Nation Daydream Nation (Elephant Stone) Suddenly, it occurs to me that any band with the chutzpah to name itself after Sonic Youth's most powerful musical statement had better offer one helluva debut disc. Ottawa, Canada's Daydream Nation make a variant rough-hewn dream pop, reminiscent of Ride, The Jesus and Mary Chain and (especially) Swervedriver that is hard to resist. Their guitars are relentless, thick and pedaled into frenzy, but rather than obliterating all that falls into their path, generating miasmic trance, they grind over some manic Seventies and Eighties rock beats (many of the rhythm patterns bring to mind Eno's first two records)… —Michael Meade (May 2004)

Daydream Nation Daydream Nation (Elephant Stone) Anyone who owns anything by the Jesus and Mary Chain or any other albums done in that same wall o’ sound/trainer-gazing Britpop fashion will find this sweeter than a deep fried Mars bar. The layers of nonchalant vocals and harmonies give them a touch of the ’60s Brit Invasion sound with more of the ’90s melodic grit brought to us by bands like Sonic Youth and My Bloody Valentine. “Daydream” and “Awake” are catchy, smooth, dreamy, fuzzy pop songs that could melt the sugar on anyone’s cake, but not all is as lush and sweet. “Swastika Eyes” rambles along in a cacophony of percussion and minor chords and “Shine” could easily be that lost J and M Chain track that we’ve all been waiting for. The fact this disc sounds like it was recorded in some little tin garage in their hometown of Ottawa makes it even cooler. This is the band we all dreamed of being in 1990. Kudos to Daydream Nation for actually doing it and superbly. —Coreen Wolanski (February 2004)

Daydream Nation Daydream Nation (Elephant Stone) To answer your first question, no (they don't sound anything like Sonic Youth). As for your second, late ‘80s to early ‘90s shoegazer/Brit-pop—well-written, distant sounding hooks saturated in fuzzy guitars and chorusing synthesizers. A half-lit room full of sexy singles after a couple drinks who aren't afraid of Holocaust imagery as a social rant ("Swastika Eyes"). Daydream Nation is perhaps a straightforward version of My Bloody Valentine, a less exciting Jesus and Marcy Chain (see the later years). Which basically leaves you with something not-unlike B.R.M.C. minus that band's occasional garaging. While it may be the case that any band who names themselves, and subsequently their self-titled debut, after, arguably, the seminal album of a genre and a generation should be held suspect, this record is alright on most days and gets better after dark. —Eric Gallippo (March 2004)

Blisscent Top 25 CDs of 2003 01. Longwave - The Strangest Things 02. The Raveonettes - Chain Gang Of Love 03. Ulrich Schnauss - A Strangely Isolated Place 04. A Northern Chorus - Spirit Flags 05. Mew - Frengers 06. The Radio Dept. - Lesser Matters 07. Manitoba - Up In Flames 08. Sweet Trip - Velocity:Design:Comfort 09. M83 - Deadcities, Redseas, & Lostnights 10. Daydream Nation - S/T 11. Turnerjoy - Find Yourself Along The Way 12. The Stills - Logic Will Break Your Heart 13. The Meeting Places - Find Yourself Along The Way 14. The Stratford 4 - Love & Distortion 15. Starflyer 59 - Old 16. Singapore Sling - The Curse Of Singapore Sling 17. Halley - Forget The Leaves, Autumn Will Change Us 18. Pacific UV - S/T 19. B.R.M.C. - Take Them On, On Your Own 20. Fonda - Catching Up With The Future 21. Pony Express - Becoming What You Hate 22. Wayne Everett - Kingsqueens 23. Luminous Orange - Drop You Vivid Colours 24. Boyracer/Kanda - Girlracer/I Do 25. Rocketship/Trace - Split Double ep

Daydream Nation Daydream Nation (Elephant Stone) Dirty shoegaze mood drifting through muddy ecstatic guitar fuzz. Heavy mellow, and thick. Elements of Primal Scream, My Bloody Valentine, and that Jesus and Mary Chain noise break through the guitars and bass, while the vocals drift over it all, moving maybe more like the Church. MBV hits hard on the third song, and if you take the band name, Daydream Nation, and the title of the fourth song, "Swastika Eyes" you get a pretty good idea of the mood pushing out here. It's not like Sonic Youth, and it's not Primal Scream, but if you could merge the two and throw down a sweetness into the mix, a little warmth and sad touch, like the last time you said good-bye, you'd get a lot of what this music is like. —Marcel Feldmar (December 2003)

Daydream Nation Daydream Nation (Elephant Stone) This is the debut record from Ottawa, Canada's Daydream Nation. It is reminiscent of shoegaze in their feedback noise, but there are also some aspects of 60's pschedelic music. This album also reminds me a lot of Ride, and I would also guess that they like the Cure as well. Overall this record has a nostalgic mood to it! Translated by Akiko Sugio (December 2003)

Daydream Nation Daydream Nation (Elephant Stone) This is the debut album by three guys from Canada. Both the band name and the label sounds familiar (laugh). Late eighties influence, early nineties beginnings? The sound seems to be influenced by shoegaze. Even though there are a lot of bands which prefer the bright dream pop, this band is totally different from those kinds of bands. The sounds have a hazy, dark and psychedelic atmosphere. For listeners the voice of the vocal makes listless mood. But it seems to me that the melody is easy to listen to, due to its tone of popular music sounds, that's good!! I can imagine those bands, Swervedriver, Jesus and Mary Chain, MBV, and BRMC. The ride you're taken on listening to this record, takes you from brilliantly bright sounds, to psychedelic and dark sounds. Thus this band reminds me of both spectrums of the shoegaze genre. Pat, one of the center members,looks like Peter Buck from REM (Laugh). Anyway they'll have the second album out next year! Translated by Akiko Sugio (November 2003)

Daydream Nation Daydream Nation (Elephant Stone) Appearing next and moving across the pond we have the very cool DAYDREAM NATION. This super sonic dark pop band were formed by Indie guru Pat Vaz from Ottawa, Canada. Pat concentrates on Songwriting and vocals and is accompanied by Angus Mclachlin (Keyboards) and Andrew Smith on drums. "Morning Light" is a dark bouncy leftfield gem with lovely distorted guitars and anthemic vocals that remind us of The Jesus and Mary Chain sipping cocktails with Echo and the Bunneymen, Fields of the Nephilim and The Cure. There is a lot of atmosphere on this superb alternative record and the vocals are massive and full of glorious reverb. The whole sound conjures up images of a late night decadent smokey dancefloor. Fuzzy and dark but also groovy and very danceable. In their own words this music is for "The morning after the night before, A soundtrack for the that spongy haze of the half drunk and the half-hung-over-netherword." Yes it has a dark 80's bedsit goth appeal but the sound also rises to new heights incorporating a modern twist but luckily with no bleeps. If you know what we mean. Pat and the Daydream Nation are the new pioneers of nocturnal pleasure beats and dark love songs. Excellent and all the way from Canada. The NME also love em: "distorted impenetrable guitars, big fuzzy drums and lazily mammoth vocals." (October 2003)

Daydream Nation Daydream Nation (Elephant Stone) You will NOT buy a better Swervedriver record this week! Daydream Nation may be from Canada, but their spellbinding fuzz-laden sound is highly reminiscent of seminal UK artists like My Bloody Valentine, Swervedriver, and The Jesus & Mary Chain…well, and Sonic Youth! In fact, in their brief existence the group has already made a dent in London, their self-released demo EP having received a great review earlier this year in acclaimed British tastemaking magazine, NME: “distorted impenetrable guitars, big fuzzy drums and lazily mammoth vocals”. Big Takover calls it: “Dirty shoegaze mood drifting through muddy ecstatic guitar fuzz. Heavy, mellow, and thick. Elements of Primal Scream, My Bloody Valentine, and that Jesus and Mary Chain noise break through the guitars and bass, while the vocals drift over it all, moving maybe more like the Church. MBV hits hard on the third song, and if you take the band name, Daydream Nation, and the title of the fourth song, "Swastika Eyes" you get a pretty good idea of the mood pushing out here…” (October 2003)

Daydream Nation Daydream Nation (Elephant Stone) Yes this isn't a new sound, but what is these days anyway. This is damn well done and to top it off it sounds cool as shit. It does sound as if it could have been an early Jesus and Mary Chain/My Bloody Valentine record, but don't let that stop you from enjoying their sound. These Canadians have made a terrific record that blends guitar distortion and harmony together for a soothing ride along the shoegaze path. Congratulations Elephant Stone for another good signing. —Lio (October 2003)

Daydream Nation Spread Your Love No, it's not Peter Buck from REM. It's Pat Vaz from Canada and he's a fixture on the local indie scene in Ottawa, dontcha know. This is "a soundtrack for that spongey haze of the half drunk" and Pat 'fesses up the shiny similarities between Daydream Nation and the likes of the Mary Chain and My Bloody Valentine almost as fast as I can hear them. As a wall of noise affair it does what it's supposed to do—distorted impenetrable guitars, big fuzzy drums and lazily mammoth vocals, which is nothing we haven't already heard but nostalgia is sometimes more acceptable than the new and the nasty.... —Holly Hernandez (June 2003)