Last Days of Heaven Unveils the Hauntingly Beautiful Out of Body
Texas-based multi-instrumentalist Juan Vargas crafts an introspective and sonically immersive LP, produced with shoegaze veteran Nick Bassett
In an era where dreampop and shoegaze continue to evolve, few releases capture the genre’s raw emotional depth like Last Days of Heaven’s new LP, Out of Body. Released on February 14, 2025, the five-track record is a deeply introspective and sonically expansive journey, blending bedroom-recorded intimacy with lush, melancholic atmospheres. At its core, the album is a meditation on aging, guilt, and letting go, wrapped in layers of reverb-soaked guitars and ethereal vocals.
A Visionary Sound from Chicago to Texas
The driving force behind Last Days of Heaven is Juan Vargas, a Texas-based multi-instrumentalist and producer who infuses Out of Body with a deeply personal, almost spectral quality. Drawing inspiration from artists like Deerhunter, Scott Walker, Sparklehorse, and My Bloody Valentine, Vargas crafts a delicate balance between hazy nostalgia and cathartic energy.
The album’s textured, dreamlike aesthetic is elevated by the expert mixing and mastering of Nick Bassett (Whirr, Deafheaven), whose signature sonic touch enhances the shoegaze-laden swells and ghostly vocal layers.
A Collaborative Effort, A Singular Vision
While Vargas remains the project’s architect, Out of Body benefits from an impressive cast of collaborators who add depth to its already expansive sound:
- Mariah Munn (almma) – vocals (notably on Before the Sadness and Babygirl), adding a celestial, haunting presence.
- Jasper Byrne – alto sax, guitars, and synths (Nothing Left to Torture), introducing a jazzy, experimental undercurrent that disrupts the album’s dreamlike haze in striking ways.
- Steve Jonker – bass (The Night Comes for You), grounding the album’s ethereal textures with warm, resonant low-end.
Each musician’s contributions complement Vargas’ intricate arrangements, resulting in a record that feels both intimate and cinematic—like the soundtrack to a dream slowly unraveling.
An Immersive Dive into Emotion and Sound
Though Last Days of Heaven’s music is rooted in shoegaze, indie, and dreampop, Out of Body expands beyond genre conventions, embracing elements of post-rock, ambient, and experimental soundscaping. The result is an album that lingers like a fading memory, inviting listeners into its hazy, introspective world.
With this LP, Juan Vargas not only refines his craft but cements his place in the modern dreampop landscape. Fans of Whirr, Slowdive, and even the lo-fi textures of Sparklehorse will find themselves lost in Out of Body—an album that captures the beauty of impermanence, the weight of nostalgia, and the fleeting nature of time itself.
Out of Body is available now—an essential listen for those seeking a deeply emotional and sonically immersive experience.
