Tag: wendy

Rules Return with Wendy

Leave a comment

Back at the beginning of this pandemic we were introduced to the literature-influenced synth pop act Rules; their first single was an homage to Haruki Murakami. This time round, they’re reimagining JM Barrie’s Wendy, telling the story through sparkling pop. I like how the shimmering synth work sort of hangs back; it definitely swells in your ears, but it doesn’t get int he way for the performance of Iiti Yli-Harja’s vocal performance. She comes in with a hint of 80s pop nostalgia coming across like a more rehearsed Tiffany; there’s just this extreme frivolity in her voice, and I can’t pull away. The group release their self-titled debut this August courtesy of Soliti Music.

Plums Ready EP02

Leave a comment

Up until now, I always think of songs with the title Wendy as an ode to Descendents (even though I know that’s an ode to Beach Boys in and of itself). That might change now that I’ve heard the pop amalgamation coming from Plums; there’s something sinisterly sweet in this song. Perhaps it’s the R&B references at work in the harmonies, or maybe the hauntingly playful moments that creep up from the distance. I guess in the end, it’s a fairly simple pop song, though it’s being presented in a unique repackaging…hopefully drawing in listeners. The group will drop EP02 on September 7th via Forged Artifacts.

Slow Beauty from Small Wonder

Leave a comment

smallwonder As Austin is surrounded by some awfully dreary weather today, it’s perfect that this Small Wonder tune came into our inbox.  It’s a soft ballad draped around the backbone of a piano. The song broods for over six minutes, offering a sincere bit of beauty that’s enforced by the trading of vocals between songwriter Henry Crawford and Susannah Cutler (no relation to Jay).  It’s a listen that reminds me of my first run through with Majical Cloudz; you find it hard to tear yourself away from your stereo.  You’ll find this song on Wendy, which just got a digital release via Father Daughter Records.

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/134187905″ params=”color=ff9900&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_artwork=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]