It would be unfair to accuse L.A. band Powder Pink & Sweet of being a throwback dream-pop act. I think they're intentionally crafting music that's nostalgic for a bygone era. And given that, the only fair question is whether they succeed or not. Little Stories, the quartet's newest album, succeeds enormously in that regard.
"My Fragile Heart" unspools like something off of the first Slowdive album, even as "Grey Day" retains the nimbleness of mid-period Lush. This stuff is tuneful to a fault, with the shoegaze trappings never once overwhelming the actual compositions. Elsewhere, "Slightly Hopeful" mines an easy hook amid chiming and stretched-out guitar-lines, while "Dreaming of Leaving" has a bit more pop to it. This one bounces like "I Could Be Happy" by Altered Images and indicates a heftier sound for this group.
Powder Pink & Sweet are not doing anything new here, but they are remarkably adept at doing this sort of thing exactly right. The material here is suitably airy, breathy, and well-constructed, and leader Cris Verso keeps things concise even as the effects and riffs soar into more amorphous territory. For those who love any of the bands I've mentioned, there will be a lot to like here.
Little Stories by Powder Pink & Sweet is out now.
[Photo: Piper Ferguson]