The breakthrough augmentors of Shoegaze summoned sonic sanctuary in ‘Paper’ –

Planer dared to start with ‘End’ on their debut 3-track release. The standout single, Paper, is sonic sanctuary for anyone who was soaking up puddles in their baggy jeans before it was cool. The augmentors of Shoegaze built the track with a hypnotic juxtaposition between the lush languidity of distortion-heavy production and visceral instrumental momentum. It’s pure poetry. The ennui of outlier desolation oscillates through the release before Grandaddy-esque polyphonic synths deliver a sugar fix into the sludgy melancholy that will feel like home for any alt 90s kid, or anyone romanticising the era they wish they existed within, instead of the more maleficent malaise of modernity.

The diaphanous humility in the vocals draws you in, while the relentless kinetic current ensures you stay submerged and sonically sedated by the sense-wrestling progressions. It’s a stunning way to signal that Planer’s future releases will only dive deeper into that emotionally expansive density.

Formed of J. Mooradian, Z. Moncrieff, Matt “Bucket” Day, and Ricky Frame, Planer exists somewhere between ethereal beauty and crushing sonic weight. They’ve already sharpened a sound that weaves post-rock dynamics into heavy shoegaze foundations, with dual vocal and guitar work that never chases crescendo for the sake of it. Their aim is atmosphere and texture, and Paper proves they’ve mastered the push and pull between introspection and catharsis.

Paper is now available on all major streaming platforms, including Spotify. 

Review by Amelia Vandergast