Lull

While Japans Taffy have been known to incorporate a variety of styles in the alternative realm -- punk, shoegaze, power pop, grunge, and sweeter indie pop -- into their often noisy indie rock recordings, their sixth album, lull, hews closely to a danceable yet wistful sound favoring dream pop and indie pop. That tendency, along with the albums title, may have something to do with the fact that it arrives nearly six years after its predecessor, a span of time that included challenges like COVID-19 disruptions and the acquirement of a new guitarist (welcome Rio to the stage). It opens, however, with a glitchy, electronic intro, "Kiko," that sounds like a mix of tuning up, time travel, and trying to find a radio station amid static on the AM dial. Some of those noises carry over into the first song, "lull," which takes the form of a gentle, bittersweet indie pop thats "missing you." It eventually adds rock drums and flashes of feedback without disturbing lead singer Iris wispy reverie. Taffy pick up the tempo on most of the rest of the album, which includes a grungier entry, "shhhhh," and the more rock-oriented "Five+," but they concentrate on bouncy, reverb-bolstered tunes like "ifonly," "Colour Me," with its skittery groove, and "Prism 45," a seven-minute dream pop mini-epic. Despite the long wait, lull goes by in a flash, ending with the encore-like pairing of the boppy "Honey Milky Way" and a somber, power ballad version of the R.E.M. mandolin song "Hairshirt," which closes the album with the welcome reassurance "Here I am/In your life/Its a beautiful life." ~ Marcy Donelson