Sky Is Alright - FINITE.
Indie Rock / Dream Pop / Shoegaze – London / Los Angeles – November 4, 2026 – Shore Dive Records
Some albums carry a much deeper emotional significance than their music might initially suggest, and FINITE., the second album from transatlantic shoegaze duo Sky Is Alright, is certainly one of them. Released on November 4, 2026, through Brighton-based independent label Shore Dive Records, the record explores grief, memory and the passing of time through eight compositions that move between shimmering dream pop, atmospheric shoegaze and the heavier guitar-driven sound of 1990s alternative rock.
Behind Sky Is Alright are longtime friends Rishi Neal Arora and Christopher Patrick Gregory, who formed the project in 2018 while living between London and Los Angeles. Arora handles vocals, guitars and bass, while Gregory provides drums and percussion. Both musicians have previous experience in the independent music scene, notably through their involvement with Signal Hill and The Littlest Viking, projects associated with American post-rock and math-rock.
Their musical partnership brings together a shared appreciation for atmospheric guitars, melodic songwriting and the contrasting dynamics that made so much alternative music of the 1990s memorable.
There are clear connections to Slowdive, My Bloody Valentine, Catherine Wheel, Hum and The Smashing Pumpkins, although Sky Is Alright have developed their own approach to combining these influences, often moving from delicate vocal passages to expansive walls of distorted guitars.
Their self-titled debut album, released in June 2021 through Somewherecold Records, introduced this musical identity across eight tracks. Songs such as “Mistress Pessimist,” “Indigo Moon” and “Last Bus Home” demonstrated the duo's ability to combine melancholic melodies with immersive guitar textures, establishing a promising foundation for their future recordings.
Five years later, FINITE. finds Sky Is Alright returning with a considerably more personal collection of songs.
The album was written in the aftermath of the death of Shamily Angeli Arora, Rishi Neal Arora's sister, who passed away in 2022. Dedicated to her memory, the record reflects on the emotional consequences of losing someone close, exploring childhood memories, family relationships, loneliness and the difficult process of learning to live with absence.
The title itself is particularly appropriate. FINITE. acknowledges the limited nature of human existence, yet the music frequently introduces moments of warmth and beauty alongside its sadness.
What makes the album especially affecting is the way these emotions are reflected in the arrangements. The guitars can be overwhelmingly powerful, but they also provide moments of tenderness, while the rhythm section gives the compositions a sense of movement that prevents the record from becoming entirely consumed by melancholy.
Opening track “Summer In Galt” establishes this balance immediately. Inspired by a childhood memory of visiting Arora's dying grandmother, the song combines energetic indie rock with the enveloping guitar textures associated with shoegaze.
There is something particularly moving about the way the music accompanies this recollection, allowing the intensity of the instrumentation to contrast with the vulnerability of the subject matter.
“Angeli” brings the album's personal significance into even sharper focus. Written about the moment Arora learned of his sister's death, the composition moves between restrained vocal passages and more emotionally expressive sections, supported by distorted guitars and forceful percussion.
The shifts in intensity give the song a powerful sense of emotional urgency, capturing something of the confusion and overwhelming feelings that can accompany sudden loss.
With “Windmills For Miles,” the atmosphere becomes noticeably lighter. Its dreamy guitar melodies and softer textures recall the early British shoegaze scene, particularly the melodic sensibility of Lush. The song offers a welcome change of pace, demonstrating that the album's emotional landscape extends beyond sadness alone.
“Argue For Sunlight” is one of the record's most expansive compositions, running for more than six minutes. Built around swirling guitars and ethereal vocals, it gradually develops into a more powerful arrangement, exploring feelings of loneliness through a combination of atmospheric restraint and almost anthemic intensity.
The second half of the album continues to explore different aspects of the duo's sound.
“Countryless” introduces a denser instrumental approach, with layered guitars and a strong rhythmic foundation giving the composition considerable momentum.
“Emily's Star” moves closer to the melodic traditions of American indie rock, offering a more introspective atmosphere while maintaining the rich guitar textures that characterise the album.
On “Drink And Sway,” Sky Is Alright explore the ways people attempt to cope with emotional pain. The rougher guitars and more driving rhythms provide an interesting contrast to the subject matter, suggesting the restless energy that can accompany grief and the search for temporary relief.
The album concludes with “Rendered Obsolete,” a particularly significant composition that brings together many of the musical and emotional ideas explored throughout the record.
Beginning with a slow, almost oppressive atmosphere, the song gradually introduces brighter guitar textures, layers of distortion and delicate string arrangements. The contribution of violinist Jonathan Hill adds another dimension to the composition, reinforcing its emotional depth.
Over its six-minute duration, the music seems to move from the immediate weight of loss towards something more reflective and accepting. The sadness remains present, but there is also a sense of perspective, as though the passage of time has allowed certain memories to become a source of comfort as well as pain.
The production deserves particular attention. FINITE. was recorded, mixed and mastered by Dax Liniere at Puzzle Factory Sound Studios in London, with Liniere also co-producing the album and contributing backing vocals to several tracks.
Despite the considerable density of the guitars, the arrangements retain enough clarity for the melodies and dynamic changes to remain effective. This balance is especially important on a record where emotional expression depends so heavily on the relationship between quieter passages and more powerful instrumental sections.
Sky Is Alright's live line-up is further complemented by Ajay Moti and Charles Hall, expanding the duo's musical possibilities beyond the studio.
What I particularly appreciate about FINITE. is its ability to combine the emotional directness of indie rock with the immersive qualities of shoegaze. The influences are familiar, especially for listeners who grew up with the alternative guitar music of the 1990s, but the personal experiences behind these compositions give the album a significance that extends beyond nostalgia.
The record also demonstrates how effectively atmospheric music can communicate feelings that are difficult to express through lyrics alone. Sometimes it is the gradual arrival of a distorted guitar, a change in vocal intensity or a subtle instrumental detail that carries the greatest emotional weight.
With FINITE., Sky Is Alright deliver a deeply personal and beautifully atmospheric second album, combining powerful shoegaze guitars, dreamlike melodies and the emotional intensity of alternative rock.
It is a record shaped by loss, but also by love, gratitude and the memories that remain long after someone has gone. Across its eight compositions, Rishi Neal Arora and Christopher Patrick Gregory create a musical tribute that feels sincere, intimate and frequently uplifting despite its difficult subject matter.
For listeners drawn to the melodic shoegaze of Slowdive, the heavier guitar textures of Hum or the emotional immediacy of Catherine Wheel, FINITE. is an album well worth spending time with.
More importantly, it is a reminder of music's remarkable ability to preserve something of the people we have loved, even when their time with us has come to an end.
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