Has it really been nearly four years since the last Yumi Zouma record? While that's a long time to wait for new music from the New Zealand band, I'm happy to report that their new one, No Love Lost to Kindness, is out today, and that it was worth the wait.
Opener "Cross My Heart and Hope to Die" leans heavily into a New Order-ish kind of vibe, while the superb "Drag" is all winning vocals from Christie Simpson and bright chords ringing around her. The radio-ready "Blister" is sharp and peppy, with crunchy hooks and percolating rhythms anchoring the song. All of this sounds so good, and so direct and fresh that I keep thinking that this band should be getting far more attention here. The more lyrical "Phoebe's Song" turns down the sonic attack just enough so that the lovely verses can etch out some space. Like the best Yumi Zouma material, it's both catchy and a little bit brash.
No Love Lost to Kindness is a deft mix of shoegaze elements with a real smart pop sensibility. The members of Yumi Zouma -- Christie Simpson (vocals, keyboards), Josh Burgess (guitar, bass, vocals, keyboards), Charlie Ryder (guitar, bass, keyboards), and Olivia Campion (drums) -- clearly have a knack for blending styles to reach maximum effect. This record may be their best, most accessible one to date, and given how good the earlier ones were, that's saying something. Catchy throughout, No Love Lost to Kindess is one of the most listenable dream-pop / pop records I've heard in months. Highly recommended!
No Love Lost to Kindess by Yumi Zouma is out today via Nettwerk.
Yumi Zouma are kicking off their new American tour right here in D.C. on April 30 at the Black Cat with openers Ducks Ltd.
[Photo: Mikayla Hubert]