Joshua Scurfield – Disappear, Reappear (2026)
Based in Aylesbury, England, Joshua Scurfield has been steadily building a catalogue of singles since ‘Absent Eyes’ was released in February, 2026. With another new one already scheduled for later this month, his most current single is ‘Disappear, Reappear’.
Exploring the world of dissociation as a response to trauma, ‘Disappear, Reappear’ continues to display Scurfield’s affinity for the 1990s. If Scurfield’s last single, ‘Digital Poison’, owes a debt to aspects of the ‘90s generically (though Scurfield’s voice does recall Thom Yorke), ‘Disappear, Reappear’ owes a debt to shoegaze in general and Slowdive in particular.
‘Disappear, Reappear’ fades in with an indistinct swirl of distorted guitars before kicking into gear with an acoustic guitar strumming through a melancholy descending chord progression. Scurfield’s vocal line counters with an ascending melody and a nearly static melodic comment that sounds like something Morrissey would have written. “I’m only partly here/ I’m no one”, Scurfield sings in his high-timbred voice, plumbing a theme of isolation common to his work.
As the song progresses, the swirl of distorted guitars returns for the chorus and leaves again to be replaced by a fat, reverb-cushioned electric guitar that arpeggiates its way through the progression, adding some nice fills here and there. ‘Disappear, Reappear’ is a pleasant tune that showcases Scurfield’s ability to access tone, mood, and the use of contrastive elements while maintaining consistency throughout the song.
However, ‘Disappear, Reappear’ has the unfortunate ability to call to mind bands and artists who have done this kind of thing much better. One recalls Souvlaki from the aforementioned Slowdive, which uses the contrasting elements of distortion and clean acoustic rhythm to create the immersive dream world that Scurfield alludes to.
Scurfield is far from replicating the kind of sonic tapestry that Slowdive creates, but neither does he bring a mark of distinction to this single. When put up next to his other singles, the lack of distinction is amplified by the fact that the other songs use many of these same elements, but with less of a nod to Shoegaze.
That said, Scurfield may be one to keep your ear open for. After all, he’s only four singles into a career that may develop a more singular presence over time.
Find out more about Joshua Scurfield on his official website, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Bandcamp and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
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