It's difficult to say just how much light Lorde's recent Grammy triumph will shine on new music coming out of New Zealand, but despite the country's remoteness and compact size, Kiwis have had an understated presence for the last 30 years or so.
Not that Yumi Zouma sound like a product of their original environment; the trio's silky, evocative disco-pop feels more like club music for the wee hours in some tropical paradise. Elastic bass lines, supple synths and tight, danceable rhythms make the reverb-heavy, uncomplicated production on both "A Long Walk Home For Parted Lovers" and "Sålka Gets Her Hopes Up" almost indistinguishable, save singer Kim Pflaum's hushed sing-along choruses. Standout "The Brae" follows a more textbook indie pop rhythm, with some wistful guitar echoes snuggling Pflaum's more impassioned vocal, while "Riquelme" is nocturnal heaven with a soft-focus haze, New Order-ish bass and a weepy guitar riff that's to die for.
This four-song EP needs only 15 minutes to make a strong impression, and just so happens to be as satisfying as any LP released so far in 2014.
(Cascine)Not that Yumi Zouma sound like a product of their original environment; the trio's silky, evocative disco-pop feels more like club music for the wee hours in some tropical paradise. Elastic bass lines, supple synths and tight, danceable rhythms make the reverb-heavy, uncomplicated production on both "A Long Walk Home For Parted Lovers" and "Sålka Gets Her Hopes Up" almost indistinguishable, save singer Kim Pflaum's hushed sing-along choruses. Standout "The Brae" follows a more textbook indie pop rhythm, with some wistful guitar echoes snuggling Pflaum's more impassioned vocal, while "Riquelme" is nocturnal heaven with a soft-focus haze, New Order-ish bass and a weepy guitar riff that's to die for.
This four-song EP needs only 15 minutes to make a strong impression, and just so happens to be as satisfying as any LP released so far in 2014.
