Crosses [Chino Moreno's side project]

[Inkblades]

I remember it being very melancholy and very spacey. Kinda took me back to that 00's Team Sleep/SNW era when I heard it. Also synth heavy and with hard drums, as the article notes - think Xerces or TS's Appollonia. Not trying to hype it up too much but it was my favorite of what he played.

[plagasx]

I remember it being very melancholy and very spacey. Kinda took me back to that 00's Team Sleep/SNW era when I heard it. Also synth heavy and with hard drums, as the article notes - think Xerces or TS's Appollonia. Not trying to hype it up too much but it was my favorite of what he played.

Xerces...

[Inkblades]

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cloc83oD8F0/

Bunch of studio snippets here, who knows what will be on the EP but they sound really cool - loving the haunted sound of the first clip.

[Inkblades]

Holier snippet:

https://www.instagram.com/p/ClrJkoRuzns/

[plagasx]

Holier snippet:

https://www.instagram.com/p/ClrJkoRuzns/

Haha, beat me to it. I was actually going to ask you if it's Holier. Definitely fits your description so far. Loving it.

[Inkblades]

Here's a well-written review of the EP. There's a couple other reviews out there but this one stood out to me the most...

https://riffmagazine.com/album-reviews/%E2%80%A0%E2%80%A0%E2%80%A0-crosses-permanent-radiant/

[defsteve]

Mailing list, check your email.

[GlimmeringMaggit]

Holier

[Inkblades]

Holier is an all-time great Chino song for me. Love those melodies, those synths and those thick bass hits. They added a lot of flourishes to it too, the version I heard was more stripped down.

I'm gonna need some more time with Cadavre and Procession before I give my opinion on those. Well, besides Cadavre reminds me a bit of George Michael for some reason.

[plagasx]

Holier is great but I think I actually like Procession more. Not sure what to think of Cadavre yet lol. Overall, this is a VERY electronic sounding EP. Especially compared to the previous one. I dig it. I think Sensation is still my favorite of the released tracks thus far though.

[GlimmeringMaggit]

Day One has really grown on me.

I love this thing. Procession might actually be my least favourite at this stage but the way the melody drops down in the chorus is lovely (and Shaun's production on Chino's voice on that track is really interesting – accentuates it differently to how I've ever heard it used before).

Cadavre is smooth as hell. The climbing notes underneath the melody sound cool as hell.

[Inkblades]

Holier video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wz5RqIsLjG0&ab_channel=CrossesMusic

[Inkblades]

I can tell Cadavre is one of those songs that I'll be like "This is okay" when I listen to it but then when I'm not listening to it it's stuck in my head all day. One of those songs that is sneaky about how good it is.

Procession has a really cool, trippy chorus. Not sure if I love the tinny vocal filter on Chino's voice on that one, though. Sounds better in the car than on the computer.

Fantastic EP all in all. Now when's the next one?

[GlimmeringMaggit]

I think this is the best thing they've done tbh. Every track's hitting in its own way. Day One is such a snug bop, grown on me so much since I heard it a few weeks ago.

[nicklav]

Procession's chorus is one of the best melodies Chino has written in a long time, IMO.

[SMLiberator]

Fantastic EP, I've seen a lot of mixed reactions to Day One but honestly I love it especially because of how unusual it sounds for Chino

Also, anyone else getting huge This Place is Death 2.0 vibes from Procession?

[Inkblades]

Fucking around with playlist orders with the 2020's Crosses material, this flows together pretty well for an album:

1. Initiation
2. Vivien
3. Cadavre Exquis
4. Day One
5. The Beginning of the End
6. Protection
7. Goodbye Horses
8. Procession
9. Holier
10. Sensation

[Inkblades]

Interview with Chino and Shaun:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=drJdy9pVEWA&ab

[plagasx]

Ah, so happy they posted the interview. I missed out. Some interesting stuff in there. The future is bright for Crosses.

[Inkblades]

Lotta ††† news...

https://www.revolvermag.com/music/crosses-talk-heavier-new-music-2023-shows-winking-britney-spears

Things to note:

- Shaun calculates they have five more songs that are done and are in the midst of finishing up five more songs.
- Chino says this material is more "expansive" than what was on the EP. It seems like Initiation/Protection and Permanent.Radiant were the welcome back teasers and now the next release will be a full length (although you never know with this band).
- One of the new songs they've been working on is the heaviest thing they've ever done but it also has no guitars.
- They are looking at touring around Spring or Summer 2023. Maybe that will be around the time of the album.

Finally, rumor is another cover song is dropping tomorrow night. Should be a good one.