Just a few weeks ago, San Diego-based shoegazers Blossom unveiled their first single since the release of their Sophomore EP Florecer in March of 2024. Announced through a cryptic video posted to their Instagram in the days preceding the song’s official debut, the track marks the beginning of a new era for the band. Having first heard the track at their show opening for Alison’s Halo in February, I was curious to see how the band translated the tune to record and what implications the track might hold towards the evolution of their sound, seeing as they teased a new project in our last conversation.
A four-minute track opening with subdued guitars and a slow-building rhythm, Blossom invites listeners into the serene domain of “Garden of Words” through soft whispers and glassy texture. Yet, just as a storm betrays the haze of a calm day, the song’s first chorus comes in like a flash, thrusting listeners headfirst into the reverb-soaked, line-driven eye of the hurricane. Swaying between intimate, almost indie rock verses to heavier, fuzzier choruses, the track manages to carry a satisfyingly melodic edge. Lyrically, the song is confessional and emotionally weathered. "Stop this faceless truth / I don't want to lose / I'll begin to hold on from you,” singer Mateo Ruiz remarks as the song dives into its bridge. It’s a moment of clarity in the daze; in the Garden of Words, even the most beautiful words can feel hollow when love begins to unravel.
In all honesty, however, the single did leave me with a slight sense of dissatisfaction. While I commend the quality of the songwriting, performance, and production (which in this case brought up the vocals, tightened the crunch of the rhythm guitar, and added a glass-like quality to the clean tones), I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t hungry for more experimentation from the band. Let me be clear, the song is by no means bad at all. In fact, if you’re in the mood for some more Whirr-esque shoegaze goodness, I think it’d be right up your alley. But “Garden of Words” felt like just more of what I expected from Blossom, albeit in a more intentional, polished form. Maybe it’s the shoegaze genre itself that’s grown oversaturated, but I can’t help but hope that Blossom chooses to carve deeper rather than echo louder. I, for one, want to see more of what they have to offer—more of what I know they can do, and hopefully, with the release of their upcoming project, we can get a glimpse of what's hiding beneath the petals we’ve seen thus far. Thorns and all.