SINGLE SPOTLIGHT: Infinity Crush - “demolition derby”
Released: February 8th, 2023
Infinity Crush released what is the first new track and newest piece of music we’ve seen from the singer/songwriter (although at times credited and sometimes performing as a full band) since 2019’s Virtual Heaven, for which she championed a successful U.S. tour with Nicole Dollanganger. With just shy of four years’ timespan inbetween this and Virtual Heaven, fans might be curious to see what the new sonic territories, if any, she may possibly explore. Or perhaps we would get something reminiscent of the whimsical, soft-as-a-pillow, blissful enchantments Infinity Crush has offered us before, with just a hint of something different? The answer floats somewhere between as we talk about her latest serenade, “demolition derby”!
Right out the gate, we’re treated to mellow guitar chord strums with a somber mood attached to their reverbed glory that resembles something similar to Duster, Dream, Ivory, and Cigarettes After Sex. But somehow, the song doesn’t quite dwell merely in the realm of shoegazey euphoria as that might entail, presenting an almost old Western feel to the sound. A slow, steady groove carries along with these chord strums, and we are quickly sung into a haze by Caroline’s angelic vocals. The bluesy, peppered-in guitar lead runs make for another special layer to the composition, further adding to that aforementioned Western feel; The song is like a lullaby for older ears, painting the scene of a sunset over a farmhouse as the day comes to a close, but even with that image – “demolition derby” still lingers somewhere between urban and country to my ears, giving enough hints of both atmospheres to make it a fairly versatile indie jingle.
From where I sit, I feel as though Caroline has a sort of return to form, if you will, with “demolition derby”. A lot of her earliest material had a similar Western vibe to it, with songs from the stumble pretty and When We’re Snow eras featuring this sort of dreamy, folk-like embellishment to them. But what sets “demolition derby” apart is probably the range in timbre; This isn’t at all the first time Infinity Crush has featured a full band behind her songwriting, but somehow it feels like an enhanced flavoring of the sweet serenity we’ve heard in the past. max Gowen is cited as the hands behind the mixing and mastering on the track, and a Travis Harrington is credited with all other backing instruments. Personally, I hope this is not the last time we see either’s involvement with Infinity Crush’s work, as the overall tone of the song is a peak reflection of Caroline’s essence and manifests a great deal of qualities about dream pop and indie music.
The difference here from what has come before is that I don’t even know that I can call this ‘bedroom pop’ anymore. While it checks the boxes for some of the usual elements of such a label, the song feels just a bit more produced and finessed than what I know the traditional sense of ‘bedroom pop’ to be. Much like with Nicole Dollanganger’s newest release, Married in Mount Airy, Infinity Crush has cut a bit more of a unique path from previous material. Even if it doesn’t stray but so far outside of her casual dynamic, there’s something about “demolition derby” that just feels much more refined and calculated; Whatever way you view it, it’s no doubt Infinity Crush has reached a new plane of brilliance.
Infinity Crush have made the track available on all streaming platforms, although it has yet to appear on Bandcamp. But for now, stream “demolition derby” on any platform of your choosing, and be sure to keep up with Caroline and her infinite crush of concordant songwriting via any of the socials provided at the top of this post! The hope, and perhaps expectation, is that the release of this single is a tease of a full-length to follow, but it remains to be seen. I, for one, will absolutely be anticipating and at-the-ready to listen to the next effort Infinity Crush blesses our ears with.
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