††† (Crosses) - Goodnight, God Bless, I Love U, Delete. (Album Review)
Tuesday, 24 October 2023
Written by Jack Terry
Photo: Brian Ziff
For the past few years ††† (Crosses), the synthwave project helmed by Deftones frontman Chino Moreno and Far guitarist Shaun Lopez, have been drip feeding new material to fans. The slow-burn has been building towards a full length follow up to 2014's self-titled debut, and it's been worth the wait.
'Goodnight, God Bless, I Love U, Delete.' offers a battle between light and dark. Held up by obsidian electronics and gloomy beats, Moreno's vocals feel lighter than ever before, his lyrics rooted in optimism and love.
Lines such as “I choose your hand / To pull from the mire I've sank in” on the stirring Light As A Feather serve as a relieving tonic to the sinister undertones of Pulseplagg, while the rousing staccato choral vocals and rumbling bass of Invisible Hand make for one of the duo's most irresistible tracks to date.
Potshots at other genres litter the album, including the industrial-leaning Pleasure and the dream-pop stylings of Runner, but are all neatly tied to the melodic roots of Crosses thanks to Moreno's serene voice. Like a vista that reveals different colours in every direction, 'Goodnight, God Bless, I Love U, Delete.' reveals more of itself the longer and harder you look at it.
A pair of high calibre features perfectly illustrate the breadth of Crosses' work. Run The Jewels rapper El-P spits on Big Youth over raucous air horns, while Girls Float Boys Cry imbibes The Cure frontman Robert Smith's performance to add a stirring dose of gothic majesty. Never ones to be pigeonholed in their separate endeavours, Crosses ensure that their music challenges and stretches the listener without ever feeling like a chore.
As accomplished as their self-titled debut was, 'Goodnight, God Bless, I Love U, Delete.' is an improvement in virtually every area. Crosses have finessed everything that worked for them before, and added to it in a way that doesn’t take away from who they are. Instead, album two expands their dark, glittering world into gorgeous new realms.
Crosses Upcoming Tour Dates are as follows:
Mon November 13 2023 - LOS ANGELES - Masonic Lodge at Hollywood Forever (USA)
Tue November 14 2023 - LOS ANGELES - Masonic Lodge at Hollywood Forever (USA)
Wed November 15 2023 - LOS ANGELES - Masonic Lodge at Hollywood Forever (USA)
Tue November 28 2023 - BROOKLYN - Elsewhere - The Hall (USA)
Wed November 29 2023 - BROOKLYN - Elsewhere - The Hall (USA)
Mon December 04 2023 - SAN FRANCISCO - Chapel (USA)
Tue December 05 2023 - SAN FRANCISCO - Chapel (USA)
Wed February 07 2024 - SALT LAKE CITY Utah - Depot (USA)
Fri February 09 2024 - DENVER Colorado - Ogden Theatre (USA)
Sat February 10 2024 - KANSAS CITY Missouri - Truman (USA)
Tue February 13 2024 - CHICAGO Illinois - Concord Music Hall (USA)
Wed February 14 2024 - DETROIT Michigan - Fillmore Detroit (USA)
Fri February 16 2024 - TORONTO Ontario - History (Canada)
Sat February 17 2024 - MONTREAL Quebec - Theâtre Beanfield (Canada)
Mon February 19 2024 - BOSTON Massachusetts - Citizens House of Blues Boston (USA)
Tue February 20 2024 - NEW YORK New York - Manhattan Center Hammerstein Ballroom (USA)
Wed February 21 2024 - SILVER SPRING Maryland - Fillmore Silver Spring (USA)
Fri February 23 2024 - RALEIGH North Carolina - Ritz (USA)
Sat February 24 2024 - ATLANTA - Eastern (USA)
Sun February 25 2024 - NASHVILLE Tennessee - Marathon Music Works (USA)
Tue February 27 2024 - HOUSTON Texas - House of Blues Houston (USA)
Wed February 28 2024 - DALLAS Texas - House of Blues Dallas (USA)
Fri March 01 2024 - SAN ANTONIO Texas - Aztec Theatre (USA)
Sat March 02 2024 - SAN ANTONIO Texas - Aztec Theatre (USA)
Tue March 05 2024 - PHOENIX Arizona - Van Buren (USA)
Wed March 06 2024 - LOS ANGELES California - Hollywood Palladium (USA)
Thu March 07 2024 - OAKLAND California - Fox Theater - Oakland (USA)
Sat March 09 2024 - SACRAMENTO California - Ace of Spades (USA)
Sun March 10 2024 - PORTLAND Oregon - Mcmenamins Crystal Ballroom (USA)
Mon March 11 2024 - SEATTLE Washington - Moore Theatre (USA)
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