Photo by Ben Rayner

“‘cwtch’ is a Welsh word meaning an embrace with a sense of offering warmth and safety, a safe place,” says Shaun Durkan of the meaning behind the title of the latest offering from crushed’s debut album, no scope. That sounds like only a good thing, no? But sometimes those creature comforts don’t always offer us a place to grow for the better, and it’s retreating to old patterns that can ultimately keep us on course toward a path toward self-destruction. The listen isn’t necessarily trying to block the light flickering into its dreamy, trip-pop window panes — if anything, Durkan and Bre Morell have at least ensured its exterior is just at it intends to be in coloring its chemical reaction of sweet sound with mellow hues and its surrounding soft, cozy halo percolating about. Take a peep inside, however, and the energy still living on in the inside is doing its most to filter it out. “I’m spiraling down / Can’t you see my dreams?”, Durkan asks. It’s a hard pill to swallow, but what feels good may not always be what’s best for us.

crushed’s no scope will be released September 29th on Ghostly International.