A stage name like 'Cigarettes After Sex' evokes a specific mood and setting: a post-coital, languid, potentially sultry scene of intimacy; a private space for lovers to connect on an emotional and intellectual level before falling asleep. Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter Greg Gonzalez certainly does justice to this aesthetic, which runs through many of the tracks on his EP: "Nothing's Gonna Hurt You Baby"; "Dreaming of You" and "Keep on Loving You".
The recently released "Affection" is perhaps the best exemplar of this aesthetic. Gonzalez has created a slow-paced, hauntingly beautiful atmosphere that sounds distinctly modern, despite its retro-leaning influence of shoegaze and dream pop (Slowdive's "Crazy for You" might be a musical influence). Gonzalez's vocals caress the listener with tenderness, even if the lyrics begin with an honest acknowledgement of the ways in which the romantic relationship falls short of being ideal:
'I know that you say I get mean when I’m drinkingBut then again sometimes I get really sweetSo what does it mean if I tell you to go fuck yourselfOr if I say that you’re beautiful to me'
Serenaded by strumming guitars, sombre lyrics and soothing vocals, the listener is assured of her place in the relationship: 'It’s affection always/ You’re gonna see it someday/ My attention’s on you/ Even if it’s not what you need". The intensity of the song's declared passion seems to burn slowly and steadily into the dark hours of the night, making for an authentically captivating listen. As Independent Music News' Jae Pyl notes, "There's just such an intimacy to Cigarettes After Sex's sound that it's impossible to not let it into the pit of your belly".
If "Affection" is a credible indicator of future tracks to come, I'm definitely keeping an eye out for Cigarette After Sex's upcoming album II.
