By Dave Guzda
It is always a good sign when you listen to a new band and find you've listened to the entire album several times before realize you have. This was the case with Winkie's debut full length release entitled One Day We Pretended To Be Ghosts. The drone shoegazing duo hailing from Brooklyn is comprised of Peter Santiago on bass with Gina Spiteri-Santiago with vocal and keyboard duties. So how much noise can two musicians make? A LOT! From the opening seconds of One Day We Pretended To Be Ghosts until the end of the album 45 minutes later, there is no escape from the crushing whirl of drone and the eerie atmospherics.
The album kicks off with playful toms then sharp wavy noise descends into the mix. The tone lingers in the background sounding like an agitated swarm of bees trapped inside an empty Carlsberg keg. The tumult is well suited to a song named 'To Die a Thousand Romantic Deaths'. Gina's vocals are sung fairly flatly and altered to sound forlorn and somber. This gives Winkie a dark vibe as Gina's lyrics come across sounding rather desolate and cheerless. Even with the aforementioned thick heavy gloom the songs still have a bouncy edge to them. The consistent steady drum beat and lighter synth tones still make 'To Die a Thousand Romantic Deaths' a catchy head nodding track. The song closes with some ballsy distortion which re-emphasizes the band's striking ability to manipulate noise.
Next up is the track 'My Eyes are Closed When the Sun Comes Up' which reminds me of older Cure with its wispy/scratchy/plucky bass tones. 'My Eyes' has some striking and mournful synth which accompanies Gina's somewhat warmer vocals. The stripped away ending of the song is quite beautiful. It delicately decays the wall of sound into a satisfying and somber conclusion. The über gazy wall of drone hums again, smoldering in the mix of the next song 'Illuminated'. There is a section of the song toward the end where the drone is off and Gina's vocals are in the forefront with the drums marching along and it's magical. Many bands can bring the noise... but few know how to use it effectively. Winkie already understands the incredible auditory power of juxtaposing loud and soft passages.
If you're looking for a wall of drone to close your eyes to while embracing the reverberating shimmer, the track 'The Line Up' is for you. I found it curious how relaxing I found the music in spite of the massive tonal onslaught. You know that 'pop' your ears feel when a My Bloody Valentine's song ends? That sudden 'release' into silence? Winkie has that and it's awesome. The rest of the album is fairly consistent with plenty of creativity, catchy synth and highlights Gina's vocals with various vocal effects. My only gripe would be a few tracks on the back half of the album tend to run a little long but this was a minor concern. From the murky drone of 'Death at the Heart of the Disco' to the slower refreshing 'Vacant' which showcase a gentler sounding Gina, One Day We Pretended To Be Ghosts offers the listener plenty of unique and interesting soundscapes to explore.
Winkie's sound often hits the right balance of dark swirling drone, atmospheric synth and mysterious vocal allure. One Day We Pretended To Be Ghosts is full of character and possesses' a powerful, confident musical presence. The album is certainly an impressive debut release for the New York duo. Those looking for a drone fix laced with melodic shoegazing goodness need look no further than Winkie. A recommended listen.
Be sure to check them out on Soundcloud.
