Prism Shores’ ‘Softest Attack‘, their third LP, is a sharp blend of ’90s power pop and shoegaze shimmer. The Montreal quartet nails a specific, sun-soaked warmth, loading their songs with enough fuzzy guitar jangle to satisfy any gearhead. The music hits with a heavy but comforting intensity, making the album’s title make total sense right away.
The record is absolutely packed with hooks that stick around for days, especially across three standout moments. “Kid Gloves” is a racing opener that sets the pace with sun-soaked melodies and crunchy distortion. “I Didn’t Mean to Change My Mind” leans heavily into Britpop, sounding like a lost 1995 classic you somehow already know the words to. Then there is “Gossamer,” a noisy highlight that builds into a wall of sound, proving the band can balance delicate melodies with pure volume.
At its core, ‘Softest Attack‘ is just an excellent guitar-pop record that never gets too artsy or precious. With all four members trading off vocals, it plays like a loose, collaborative basement party where everyone is just tracking reverb. Whether you grew up on C86 mixtapes or just want a chorus that actually delivers, this record is bright, loud, and incredibly fun. It easily locks them in as one of the best new acts in indie-pop.
Links of interest:
https://www.instagram.com/prismshores
https://prismshores.bandcamp.com/album/softest-attack