Listening to lovesliescrushing is like being wrapped in a thick, vibrating blanket of sound where the edges of reality begin to fray. It is music that occupies the space between shoegaze and pure ambient drone, stripping away the drums and structures of rock to leave only the shimmering, distorted essence of melody. The sound is massive yet strangely intimate, a paradox of crushing volume and delicate, ghostly textures.
What makes them truly distinctive is Scott Cortez's radical approach to the guitar. By using unconventional tools like paint scrapers and vibrators, he coaxes sounds out of the instrument that mimic choirs, organs, or celestial radio interference. Melissa Arpin-Duimstra's vocals are equally untethered, often eschewing lyrics for glossolalia and breathy layers that melt directly into the guitar's feedback, creating a singular, unified sonic organism.
Start with the 1992 classic Bloweyelashwish. It is the definitive statement of their 'gliss' sound, offering a perfect entry point into their world of tape-saturated, otherworldly beauty. From there, explore Chorus for a more minimal, vocal-focused experience that highlights the duo's ability to create atmosphere with the barest of elements.
Lovesliescrushing (stylized in lowercase as lovesliescrushing) is an American musical duo from East Lansing, Michigan, United States, formed in 1991. The two primary members of the band are Scott Cortez, who variously contributes guitars, loops and effects, and Melissa Arpin-Duimstra, who is the duo's vocalist. They are known for their dense and surreal psychedelic music drawing from shoegaze and dream pop, with unorthodox instrumentation and little to no drums. Several guest musicians have joined the group for live performances over the duration of its career, including Michael Anderson (Turn Pale, Drekka), Ana Breton (Dead Leaf Echo, Mahogany), Alyssa Browne and Andrew Prinz (Mahogany).
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