Pias news - They Are Gutting a Body of Water Release New Single/Video, "the chase"

New Album, LOTTO, Out October 17th via Julia's War x Smoking Room x ATO Records

17.02.2025  Trefpunt, Gent

They Are Gutting a Body of Water (TAGABOW), Philadelphia's "shoegaze scene's greatest exports" (Stereogum), release "the chase," the third single/video from their new album, LOTTO, out October 17th via Julia's War x Smoking Room x ATO Records. Following "trainers" and "american food," "the chase" is gorgeously volatile. It opens on the chime of church bells before bursting into Dulgarian's confessional account of a relapse. "I woke up that morning rapidly nose-diving into fentanyl withdrawal, and recognized the light in Emily's face," he recalls. "I became aware of the same fact that has presented itself in my life countless times, what becomes the very mission statement of the record: living in truth is a practice, and it's never too late to get real again." The lyrics are especially vivid, bolstered by a sonic intensity: "I dream of teeth falling out // I dream of swimming through dirt // and later wake up in a pool of sweat // and she gazes at me lovingly // the me she remembers." He adds: "It's hard. In no way do I want to glorify drug use. I want to make it clear that attempts to escape yourself leave you yearning for a former wholeness, always. The thing to remember is, your pain will continue to define you until you come to face with the reality of your own role in it.... And we're kind of at a handicap - the very American Dream is built on escape."

The sound of TAGABOW is defiant. In a world of automated scam calls and AI content optimized to keep us scrolling, LOTTO is the sound of four human musicians in a room. TAGABOW made their name approaching shoegaze with an experimental edge. Over the years, their extensive DIY touring has earned them a cult following, with fans driving hours for shows and sneaking cell-phone pictures of their pedal boards. Their live show incorporates EDM interludes, drawing on influences like '90s drum & bass and N64 soundtracks. They perform on the floor, purposely facing each other. No matter what chaos erupts in the mosh pit around them, TAGABOW looks inward. LOTTO is undoubtedly a live record on tape. A "touching of grass."

In writing LOTTO, Dulgarian challenged himself to put his guitar first. By abandoning digital technology and fully embracing the live-band format, LOTTO finds TAGABOW attempting to correct the course in a personal way.  "In a world of perpetually increasing artifice, this record is my attempt to surface through the sea of false muck," says Dulgarian. "It's rife with perceivable mistakes, ebbing and flowing with the most humanity I can place on one record."
TAGABOW - AMERICAN FOOD
tagabow - trainers
tagabow - the chase on Vimeo