Nature Heart Software (20th Anniversary)＜Green Vinyl＞

Pia Fraus' third album and first full release for their own Seksound label finds the Estonian act fully settled into its neo-shoegaze groove at this point; the soothing, barely understandable vocals and overdriven guitar wash on the opening "Birds Still Swing" is as close to a declaration of intent as anything else. From there Nature Heart Software makes its extremely enjoyable way over a dozen songs, and while the band are exploring a style more than finding something new to do with it, they succeed wonderfully at that first goal. If anyone's a specific point of comparison it would actually be early-'90s the Boo Radleys, with their combination of uplifting jangle, noise and sweet singing (in this case mostly from lead singer Eve Komp, providing a different contrast to the Boos' falsetto work courtesy of their singer Sice). Other nods include the just chunky enough riffing on "Day Week or Season" (with further feedback swooping over the top, of course) and the softly sung duet under the heavy guitar treatments of "Feeling Is New." Calmer and more obviously sunnier songs like "Come to Me" still have a satisfying feedback bite to them, while the secret gem of the album might be "No Borders," with its quick, bright jangle and almost anthemic charge. Overall Pia Fraus is in excellent musical health, though it will be even more enjoyable to see them further develop and experiment with their sound in the future. ~ Ned Raggett