Flywheel – “Stop Looking at Her”
Flywheel Turn Shoegaze Haze Into Cathartic Energy on “Stop Looking at Her”
Flywheel’s “Stop Looking at Her” is a beautiful shoegaze-inspired track that feels dreamy, noisy, catchy, and energising all at once. Coming from a Cork band with roots stretching back to the early 1990s, the single carries a clear understanding of the genre’s atmosphere, but it does not simply recreate an older sound. Instead, Flywheel use shoegaze as a starting point, adding noise-rock, and psychedelic colours into something that feels very much alive in the present.
The production is one of the strongest parts of the release. The effects are carefully shaped, giving the track a hazy and at times psychedelic edge without making it lose focus. The song moves beautifully between more ethereal passages and heavier, more grounded moments, allowing the listener to drift inside the atmosphere before being pulled back by the force of the guitars. That contrast gives “Stop Looking at Her” a strong emotional movement, making the track feel immersive rather than static.
The My Bloody Valentine influence can be felt in the textures and the way the guitars create waves of sound, but there are also shades that bring to mind Sonic Youth’s more abrasive side and some of Wolf Alice’s ability to combine dreaminess with direct, modern alt-rock energy. Still, Flywheel never sound like they are only collecting references. The result feels unique, because the band know how to make those elements serve their own melodic and emotional direction.
Ann Marie Ryan’s vocals are especially important here. Rather than being buried too deeply in the mix, they come through with presence and character, adding a memorable pop sensibility to the track’s more distorted edges. That choice gives the song an extra lift and helps make it both accessible and atmospheric.
“Stop Looking at Her” is a strong and compelling return from Flywheel, full of beautiful effects, noisy release, and cathartic energy. It feels dreamy on record, but it is easy to imagine it becoming an even bigger moment live, where the guitars, vocals, and atmosphere could fully explode.