Empty Parks＜Black Vinyl/限定盤＞

Empty Parks is the sixth studio album from Pia Fraus, an Estonian dream pop group who were prolific throughout the 2000s, then resumed productivity during the mid-2010s after a quiet period. The bands first release of the 2020s is business as usual for the group -- light, breezy indie pop filled with comforting vocal harmonies and wrapped in a cocoon of guitar and synth effects. For most of the album, the rhythms are brisk and driving without breaking the speed limit, and the tracks glide by without feeling forced along. The songs feel easygoing, particularly when the singers coo things like Love, its exciting, but they still manage to bury some weird things under the surface. Listen closely to tracks like Nice and Clever and youll hear some strategically placed clangs and swells of feedback which other shoegaze bands would make the focal point of their sound. Pia Fraus are far more interested in songcraft, however, so they dont drown out their hushed vocals and chiming melodies, even though they clearly could if they were so interested. While some of their other releases are heavier on electronics, this one generally keeps the synth wisps and ticking drum machines in the background, but they nevertheless help transform songs like the washed-out The New Water or the adrenaline-spiked Paper Flower Projects. While not exactly filled with anthems, there are a few catchy moments, particularly the starry Youre Not in Love, with its yearning chorus Do you still believe? Otherwise, the album is simply a refreshing, dreamy, not-too-sweet listen. ~ Paul Simpson

結成20年を突破して日本でも根強い人気を誇るエストニアのシューゲイズ/ドリーム・ポップ・バンドが、3年ぶりのアルバムを完成。夢心地なハーモニーと穏やかに重なるフィードバックが調和した素朴な聴き心地は、"Sweet Sunday Snow""Hidden Parks"といった先行曲が保証する通り。今回はジョン・マッケンタイアのプロデュースによるUS録音というトピックもあるものの、ピュアな透明感に溢れた音世界は揺るぎない。
bounce (C)香椎恵