THC Spotlight: Genjitsu Stargazing Society

Last 2019 Sound Architects released their latest killer, Regenesis, on cassette and digital; Being a sloth slob of course I missed out on the launch and wasn’t able to get one.

I ran into their guitarist Johann at Mow’s and asked if he still had copies – but they’re all out. He referred me to their label, Genjitsu Stargazing Society.

After a long stoned and procrastined time, in the mid-2020 pandemic A.D. I finally landed on the label’s Bandcamp and was able to order 1 of the 2 last remaining copies of this stellar release, along with GYHT’s latest, and a couple of cool zines. An hour later Angkas delivery came a-knockin’ bearing my goodies which included some candies.

Genjitsu Stargazing Society is a Queer-run, queer-focused cassette label and community. Some of the best and obscure local shoegaze, dreampop, and electropop bands, plus a few hardcore and punk bands released their first and or kvltest releases on this label. It is also one of the few local labels exclusively dedicated to the almighty cassette, which makes it even more special as this format continues to thrive in the age of streaming media and the huge vinyl obsession of the local music scene today.

The almighty GSS has local faves Ozzga, Washington Drama Club, Polar Lows, Megumi Acorda, BrittleGlassCasket, TIM AWA, and a long list of more cool bands and bedroom projects that need to be on your playlists. The purchase includes an 18-track label digital compilation and label sampler, The Universe is Ours, which went straight into my oldschool Winamp player accompanied with even more HEAVY tokes.

[ 2023 update: new tapes from new 90s throwback altrock/noiserock band Pry “The Party’s Over” and the latest Megumi Acorda album “Silver Fairy” (which of course sold out within days of its release) round out the current roster. ]

Late into the night armed with my weapon reloaded with a new cart + the candies in the package, I played Sound Architects’ Regenesis while toking heavily. It was the perfect soundtrack to those mid-2020 moments, frozen in time, and full of doubt and uncertainty. It captures all sorts of introspective moods with its artful cinematic soundtrack to a doomed future. A lot of Regenesis is heavy, heady, and introspective instrumental gazey postrock that our stoner readers will heavily trip out on at first listen. It might be the last release we will ever hear from the band as they no longer seem to be active as Johann now resides abroad. But if this was their last, they sure went out on a HIGH note.

GYHT’s Life is Simulation is there to reassure you everything might still be ok (?) while bludgeoning you with heavy doomgaze with industrial-feel riffs and beats, and some mildly tripped out, heavy space exploration with ethereal vocals. The album title is the answer to your woes about why there seems to be a glitch in the matrix. If Justin Broadrick decided to do a side project with Slowdive (the 90s version) and added a few other influences in the mix in some alternate multiverse, GYHT might be the result.

It’s HIGHly recommended to further explore the GSS realms of shoegaze, dreampop, and beyond with all the killer quality bands they have on their label roster. If someone asks, tell them this site sent you. Good night.

Rx Zenabi 2020