Album Review: Glitter Etiquette – Love In Shards

New York alt-rock quartet Glitter Etiquette look at the ups and downs of love and life on their new album, Love In Shards.

Their third LP comes in the wake of 2025’s CERULEAN – Deep Blue and marks not so much a shift in the band’s sound, rather a deeper exploration of the musical and lyrical themes within it.

The artwork for the album is based on the philosophy of ‘turtles all the way down’ – the idea that the world exists upon a pillar consisting of an infinite number of turtles. It is a concept with origins in Hindu, Chinese and Western thinking, one that examines the never-ending nature and repetition of existence.

Looking at existence, often within the setting of a relationship, is what drives much of the album, at least when it comes to the words the band uses to create the scenes of each of the ten songs on the album.

Shoegaze and dream pop play a large role on Love In Shards, with the tracks wrapping shimmering, reverb-laden arrangements around a production that is remarkably lush and expansive for a standard band setup.

That is instantly noticeable from The Wait, which isn’t exactly darker than the previous album, but the dreamier textures are heavier in tone, and the vocals seem more upfront in the mix.

Lyrically, a theme of regret and of coming to terms with memories sets the tone for the album, the existential side of a relationship being put under the microscope. Here, you also get the first taste of how the band embraces that reflective aspect of the lyrics, while never falling into self-absorption.

When compared to CERULEAN – Deep Blue, Glitter Etiquette take more risks with sonic boundaries; on tracks like Blue Boy and Pixel de Angel, the smooth surface of the songs contains, not conceals, guitars that could easily be interpreted as discord with an otherwise harmonious setting.

When I Saw You Sunday is especially emotionally devastating, not a usual occurrence in shoegaze and dream pop, which gives it an even greater impact. The themes of love and loss within – and after – relationships of the album are crystallised here, complemented with an arrangement that reflects the swirls of pain and numbness within the words and vocals.

Glitter Etiquette don’t expound on the intricacies of religion or philosophy on Love In Shards, however the album often also expresses a sense of looking for a greater understanding of life. They create their own palette for doing so, from the late 60s to the late 90s, without ever feeling like an exercise in retrocism. They find sounds and emotions many of us will recognise and connect with, using that familiarity to find common ground, but they also allow the band to let their defences down creatively and sonically.

Love In Shards was released on the 1st of May, 2026, and can be heard on all major digital platforms, including Spotify and YouTube Music. For other listening options and news from the band, be sure to follow them on Instagram.