Yoncalla, like summer, is glossy but not perfect. The repetition of what works on the early songs makes the back half seem too much like déjà vu. But as a whole product, its lean 34 minutes promises to soundtrack days full of sun.
For ‘Yoncalla’ the band finally recorded together. You can hear it. It’s the sound of a band in room.
Yoncalla isn’t earth-shattering - everything sort of blends together, as is often the way with most dream pop records. But what does it matter when it’s the sort of album that makes you feel good.
It’s a polished record on which their balmy dream-pop remains intact, sweetened by new intimacy.
After a few EPs that served as a warm-up, their full-length debut, Yoncalla, provides a very clear picture of the band's strengths.
That intangibility of nostalgia is what makes Yoncalla such a pleasure to listen to – there’s a comfort in their recycling of yesteryear styles that goes beyond recreation of the past.
Maybe it’s their unusual personal dynamic or the timeless quality of their music — Yoncalla borrows heavily from the ‘70s and ‘80s while never seeming anything less than modern — but Yumi Zouma seem to have stumbled upon a formula that separates them just enough to pique interest.
1. Barricade (Matter of Fact): 10
2. Text From Sweden: 10
3. Keep It Close to Me: 10
4. Haji Awali: 10
5. Remember You At All: 10
6. Yesterday: 10
7. Better When I’m By Your Side: 10
8. Short Truth: 10
9. Hemisphere: 10
10. Drachma: 10
This may be Yumi Zouma's first full length release but it follows two EPs that sounded so unified in their musical approach that any existing listeners could be forgiven for feeling like they've already experienced an album by this band, one that just happened to be delivered in two parts.
What we have here is some unassuming synth pop that's easy to dismiss - but repeat visits will reveal the songs are made of stronger stuff than you may have first given credit.
Great, summer, chilled out album. Pretty mellow, electronic dream-pop, and nothing too deep, but thats the charm.
1 | Barricade (Matter of Fact) 3:03 | |
2 | Text From Sweden 3:51 | |
3 | Keep It Close to Me 3:14 | |
4 | Haji Awali 2:58 | |
5 | Remember You at All 3:31 | |
6 | Yesterday 4:25 | |
7 | Better When I'm By Your Side 3:03 | |
8 | Short Truth 3:48 | |
9 | Hemisphere 2:47 | |
10 | Drachma 3:18 |
#14 | / | Gorilla vs. Bear |