Gray Young

Traces – On Walks Recordings

Gray Young – Traces – On Walks Music

Raleigh-based Gray Young’s Traces presents a sonic landscape that is both introspective and expansive. The album weaves together elements of atmospheric soundscapes, creating a listening experience that invites contemplation. I first saw them when they opened for the Ocean Blue about three years ago or so. They thread the line between shoegaze and prog… Fuzz mixed with orchestrated churns of sound to create a cohesive textured aural world. Still, this is a cleaner sounding album –with Ride’s Mark Gardener mastering it with more fleshed-out guitar driven rock than distorted soundscapes. This is their fifth album since their 2009 debut, Firmament.

Track 10, “Silhouettes,” is a driving tune that has echoes of reverbed guitars from U2’s The Edge. The vocals hide underneath the bassline, with a consistent drum beat that surges forward. The song then finds itself in an intense crescendo to round it out. Track 2, “Chrysalis,” is one of the singles that ranges back to an mid 80’s Chameleons sound. The interplay of instruments is tight and solid. “Traces,” the title track and another single busts open with an urgent understated flair. It is an atmospheric and moody instrumental. “Fragmentation,” track 7, is a marching beat of a track – adding a tinge of anticipation and introspection in the vocals, with a funky bassline to match.

They play at Neptunes in Raleigh on Saturday, March 29, 2025, to celebrate the release of the album. Get your tickets at the door!

Favorites on this album: 10, 2, 3, 7, 6, and 8. They are all great. Just give it a listen!

– (h)earwitness