Vaadat Charigim
Sinking As a Stone
BURGER
6/10
Israeli shoegaze trio Vaadat Charigim first met for rehearsal in a Tel Aviv school’s bomb shelter. When asked here what it’s like to be a musician in an area of such intense conflict, singer and guitarist Yuval Haring said, “Get it done fast, that’s the state of mind.” Urgency and anxiety are the pillars upon which the band’s sophomore LP stands. Long, erratic drum fills tumble end-over-end down tidal waves of ethereal synths and crushing, droning guitars. You won’t be able to decipher Haring’s lyrics, which—on top of being delivered in a dark, melodic chant—are entirely in Hebrew (but hey, it wouldn’t be a true shoegaze album if you could decipher them). Though there’s not much innovation within each song, the crowning achievement of Sinking is its ability to pair the album’s prevalent unease with moments of unbridled sonic beauty. After all, any good balancing act needs a foundation of sustained tension.
