The Franco-Argentine indie shoegaze and dream-pop project Ural Mountains has unveiled its fourth album, Dead Oceans, under the Buenos Aires-based label No Me Escucho Records. This deeply personal work is the latest from Cyril Degilles, a French musician who has called the Argentine capital home for over a decade. Known for crafting lush, atmospheric soundscapes, Degilles writes, records, and performs all the instruments on each track, making Ural Mountains a truly solo endeavor that resonates with emotional intensity and introspective depth.
In Dead Oceans, Degilles explores a range of themes that traverse the emotional spectrum. Speaking on the album's inception, he reveals, “It’s a more personal album that ranges from the cover I painted to the lyrics that talk about the loss of loved ones, as well as more joyful themes like the arrival of my daughter. It’s a very important album because it was built on those losses and concluded with the birth of my daughter.” These life-altering events are woven into the very fabric of the album, creating a sonic journey that is both haunting and hopeful. This contrast—loss met with new beginnings—is captured not only in the lyrics but also in the album's dynamic shifts, from shimmering guitar riffs and melancholic vocals to surging, euphoric crescendos.
Dead Oceans follows 2021’s Synthetic Lights, which solidified Ural Mountains' presence in the shoegaze and dream-pop scene. While Synthetic Lights leaned into ethereal textures and atmospheric layering, Dead Oceans carries a more grounded, emotive weight. Degilles' signature sound is still intact, but there's a rawness to this album—a vulnerability that invites listeners to reflect on the delicate balance between sorrow and joy.
This latest album also reflects Degilles’ own journey as an artist and a father. Each track resonates with a sense of catharsis, as though every note and lyric is a step toward healing. The artwork, a painting by Degilles himself, complements this theme with abstract oceanic motifs, hinting at the depth of emotions within. This multidimensional approach makes Dead Oceans a hallmark in Ural Mountains’ discography, showcasing an evolution not only in sound but in narrative depth.
With Dead Oceans, Cyril Degilles has crafted more than an album; he has created an emotional experience that is likely to captivate both longtime followers and new listeners drawn to music that resonates with authenticity and artistry.
