Cool Hunting

Well schooled in the fuzzed-out guitars and ambient vocals of the shoegaze canon, Gliss brings a wall-of-sound approach to their dark pop compositions. In the two years since their more somber and mopey debut, Gliss is back with "Devotion Implosion." On the record, the Los Angeles triumvirate evoke the best elements of My Bloody Valentine and the Jesus and Mary Chain, displaying anthemic qualities that help navigate the droning, murky minefield that plagues many of their contemporaries.

Songs show a practiced versatility, as members Martin Klingman, David Reiss and Victoria Cecilia switch instruments between songs. "Morning Light," one of the record's stand-out tracks, could be a female-fronted outtake from Psychocandy. While the first single, "Anybody Inside," shows all the swagger and verve of Spacemen 3.

"Devotion Implosion" comes out 7 April 2009. They've shared the stage with acts like Raveonettes, the Editors, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Smashing Pumpkins and on 25 March 2009, they'll embark on an extended North American "Stimulus Package" tour (tickets average $5) with the inexplicably Pittsburgh-based Takeover UK. Check their Myspace for dates.