Lowsunday – This is Not Heaven

“This Is Not Heaven” finds Pittsburgh darkwave-shoegaze pioneers Lowsunday creates a sweetly immersive soundtrack of reverbed guitars, ethereal vocals, and intense thoughts. The song goes into the effects of a love founded on false promises, when loyalty gives way to disappointment and inner emptiness, a feeling appropriately represented by the repeated chorus, “This is not heaven.” Groovy, reverb-driven guitar lines build the song’s dreamy atmosphere from early on, while soft, ethereal vocals develop progressively to round out its shoegaze characteristics. As the arrangement evolves, the listener is progressively drawn into a warm inner sphere in which the layers of guitars become more than just accompaniment. Their interconnected melodies nearly act as an extra voice, enhancing the lead vocals and contributing to the deep emotions of the piece. The outcome is a beautiful atmosphere that combines melody, melancholy, and a sense of isolation. The lyrics reinforce this mental picture with outstanding simplicity and honesty. Lines like “I gave devotion, you went through motions” and “All that’s left is dead emotion” represent the silent heartbreak of unkind affection with minimal clarification. The production allows each atmospheric layer breathe out, resulting in a wide combination of guitars, vocals, and ambient sounds that come together into a powerful unity. Overall, “This Is Not Heaven” is an engaging mix of darkwave and shoegaze, providing a very dramatic listening experience.