The Veldt Afrodisiac

The Veldt - Afrodisiac: A Shoegaze Masterpiece with a Soulful Twist

Shoegaze is a genre of rock music that emerged in the late 1980s and early 1990s, characterized by dense layers of distorted guitars, ethereal vocals, and dreamy atmospheres. Bands like My Bloody Valentine, Cocteau Twins, Ride, and Slowdive are considered the pioneers of shoegaze, influencing many artists in the alternative and indie scenes. But shoegaze is not a monolithic genre, and there are many variations and subgenres that explore different sonic possibilities and influences.

One of the most unique and underrated bands in the shoegaze scene is The Veldt, a quartet of African-American brothers from Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The Veldt was formed in 1986 by twins Daniel and Danny Chavis, who shared vocals and guitars, along with bassist David Burris and drummer Marvin Levi. The band was originally called Apollo Heights, but changed their name to The Veldt after reading a short story by Ray Bradbury about a futuristic nursery that simulates an African savanna. The name also reflected the band's interest in African culture and music, as well as their desire to challenge the stereotypes and expectations of being black musicians in a predominantly white genre.

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The Veldt's sound was influenced by shoegaze bands like Cocteau Twins and Lush, but also by soul, funk, hip-hop, and psychedelic rock. The band's major-label debut album, Afrodisiac, released in 1994, showcases their distinctive style of blending shoegaze with soulful vocals, groovy rhythms, and experimental elements. The album was produced by Ray Shulman, who had worked with bands like The Sundays, Sugarcubes, and XTC. The album also features guest appearances by Robin Guthrie of Cocteau Twins, who plays guitar on the outro track "Shaved", and The Jesus and Mary Chain, who remix the song "Soul in a Jar".

Afrodisiac is a stunning album that deserves more recognition and appreciation from shoegaze fans and music lovers in general. The album opens with an eerie intro track that sets the mood for the sonic journey ahead. The first song, "It's Over", is a powerful anthem that showcases the band's ability to create lush walls of sound with their guitars and vocals. The song also features a catchy bass line by Lincoln Fong, who played on several tracks on the album. The next song, "Soul in a Jar", is one of the highlights of the album, and one of the band's most popular songs. The song is a perfect example of how The Veldt combines shoegaze with soul, as Daniel Chavis delivers an emotive vocal performance over a swirling guitar backdrop. The song also has a hip-hop beat that adds to its groove and appeal.

The album continues with more gems like "You Take the World", a dreamy ballad that showcases the band's harmonies and melodies; "Revolutionary Sister", a funky rocker that features backing vocals by Denise Gross and Rachmanna Finney; "Juicy Sandwich", a psychedelic trip that experiments with sound effects and samples; "Heather", a slow-burning epic that features saxophone by Arthur Phillips; "Until You're Forever", a romantic tune that highlights Daniel Chavis' soulful voice; "Wanna Be Where You Are", a poppy number that has a catchy chorus; "Daisy Chain", a sweet song that has a nostalgic vibe; "Dusty Blood", a dark and moody track that explores themes of violence and racism; "Last Call", a upbeat song that has a danceable rhythm; "I Couldn't Care Less", a defiant song that expresses the band's attitude towards critics and haters; and "Outro (Shaved)", an instrumental track that closes the album with Robin Guthrie's signature guitar sound.

Afrodisiac is an album that deserves to be heard by more people. It is an album that showcases the creativity and diversity of shoegaze as a genre, as well as the talent and originality of The Veldt as a band. It is an album that transcends boundaries of race, genre, and time. It is an album that proves that shoegaze can have soul.

If you are interested in listening to Afrodisiac or learning more about The Veldt, you can check out these links:

[The Veldt - Afrodisiac (1994, CD) - Discogs]

[The Veldt - Afrodisiac Releases Discogs]

[The Veldt: Afrodisiac (1994) - Uppity MusicâYour Guide to Unsung Black Departures in Music]

[The Veldt - Afrodisiac Lyrics and Tracklist Genius]

[The Veldt - Afrodisiac - Reviews - Album of The Year]

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