It’s easy to hear why the young, fresh-faced New Zealand quintet Yumi Zouma caught the ear of the Cascine label when they first started sending their demos around. The sound is a fresh, young version of the kind of shimmery, lo-key, disco pop that label acts like Korallreven, Keep Shelly in Athens, and Kisses are known for.
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. Vocalist Christie Simpson has an unsullied, pristine voice that fits well with the scrubbed-fresh synths and the occasional male vocals that chime in to join her. She plays the same role here that Karolina plays on Club 8 records, a band that Yumi Zouma sound very much like. Thanks to the consistency of the spacious…
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…arrangements, the songs have an unassuming nature that allows them to sneak up on the listener over repeated listens. A couple tracks stand out from the flow of pleasant, tuneful songs; “Haji Awali” is one, with its indie pop guitars and loud/quiet dynamics; the slinky tropical pop-flavored “Text from Sweden” is another. Mostly though, Yoncalla bobs along like a raft on a sun-dappled swimming pool, the occupant having few cares and a refreshing beverage close at hand. It’s made for summer days like that and summer nights, too. Only “Better When I’m by Your Side,” which hews a little too closely to the Lorde template, does anything to darken the mood. It’s a tiny stumble that does little to detract from the pleasing nature of the rest of the album.