Snag
1990Way Cool Records
A strong debut that placed them firmly in the shoegaze tradition with dense guitars and melodic songwriting.
Ipswich's finest shoegaze act — underappreciated in their time, essential listening now for anyone tracing the genre's British roots.
Affiliate link — I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Bleach formed in Ipswich in 1989, part of the same shoegaze wave that produced My Bloody Valentine, Ride, and Slowdive. The band — Neil Singleton, Nick Singleton, Salli Carson, and Steve Scott — developed a sound that was rooted in dense guitar textures and melodic songwriting, with Carson's vocals adding a distinctive warmth to the noise.
Their debut album 'Snag' (1990) on Way Cool Records established them as a significant presence in the shoegaze scene. 'Eclipse' (1992) and 'Killing Time' (1996) developed the sound further, with the band demonstrating a consistency and quality that earned them devoted fans even if mainstream success remained elusive. They were signed to various independent labels and toured extensively.
Bleach dissolved in the late 1990s without achieving the recognition their music merited. In the years since, as shoegaze has been comprehensively reassessed and celebrated, their albums have found new audiences. They are now rightly regarded as one of the more underappreciated acts of the British shoegaze scene, and their back catalogue rewards discovery.
I saw Bleach at The Comet in Hartford. I'd brought their CD, and the whole band signed it — then Salli Carson gave me a kiss on the cheek for coming out to see them. I can't find any record of that show online, but I know I was there.
Way Cool Records
A strong debut that placed them firmly in the shoegaze tradition with dense guitars and melodic songwriting.
Way Cool Records
Their most fully realised record — dense, melodic, and emotionally resonant shoegaze.
Fierce Panda
A late-period record that showed the band still had creative ambition even as the shoegaze moment had passed.
Links marked with ★ are affiliate links. If you buy through them we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
The Dispatch
New deep-dives and playlists, straight to your inbox.