Scarling. - Hello London [noise pop, shoegaze]

Scarling. is an American noise pop band from Los Angeles. Since forming in 2002, they have released two albums Sweet Heart Dealer (2004) and So Long, Scarecrow (2005). Frontwoman Jessicka had hinted to a new album in 2012 but nothing has since been confirmed. The song below is "Hello London" from the latter 2005 album.

The style of this song and the rest of the album remind me of the Canadian band Joydrop, active in the late 90's, which combined grungy instrumentals with more clear, melodic female vocals, though Joydrop was admittedly post-grunge/alternative as opposed something within the realm of shoegaze or noise pop. Nevertheless, this sort of contrast between the distorted guitars and melodic (female) vocals seems to be a frequent motif particularly in shoegaze (just look at MBV and Slowdive for starters). It certainly adds to the musical layering and I definitely appreciate it.