From the idyllic urban wilds of NoCal comes Male Gaze, the latest darkly-painted shoegaze whizkid band that really should be from New York. Or London. But (luckily), music knows no geographic preference, and this hazy collage of stoic vocals, biting bass lines, and a guitar riff that resonates like a police siren in the middle of the night is a pleasant west coast treat. Joy Division fans, take note: while Male Gaze certainly hasn’t resurrected Ian Curtis, his spirit is alive and thriving in this track.

“Cliffs of Madness” is the A-side from Male Gaze’s Cliffs of Madness 7″, available from Mount Saint Mountain. Expect a full length from the band soon from John Dwyer’s Castle Face Records.