Formed in 1993 by Jay Bouchard, Ron Kuba, Mike Kuba, and Dave Carpenter, Blueshift Signal became a vital part of the Rhode Island indie scene. Their dreamy shoegaze sound stood out amongst their peers and earned them quite a following. In 1994, the band self-released their debut album, Seven Natural Scenes, and the song “Oceans” received regular airtime on a popular local radio station helping them gain even more notice. In 1995, after the departure of Mike Kuba, the song ‘Halo’ was released on the DC-based Bedazzled label compilation, Woke Up Smiling, which featured other like-minded dreampop and shoegaze bands like An April March and Siddal. In 2017, Manufactured Recordings (Captured Tracks) put together a digital release entitled Silhouette, collecting many of the band’s recordings and bringing well-deserved attention to the music of Blueshift Signal.
Eventide marks the first official physical release for the band and collects eight of the band’s standout tracks over the course of their existence. Side A pulls four songs from Seven Natural Scenes, starting with the bombastic title track with its compelling guitar sound and pummeling drums. Woozy synths and guitars populate the aforementioned “Oceans”, and “The Secret Garden” closes out Side A with vocals that bring to mind The Ocean Blue with its rousing chorus. Side B begins with the foreboding “Ullswater” and continues with the overcharged “Halo”. The listener is able to discern the evolution of the band over the course of the release and how complex the arrangements and songwriting became as they neared the end of their existence. Drawing on influences such as Kitchens of Distinction, Ocean Blue, and Slowdive, Blueshift Signal deserve the accolades of their peers, which has, thus far, eluded them.
