The Brooklyn band No Swoon are set to drop their debut album on Friday on Substitute Scene Records. The release reveals another act trying their hand at dream-pop stuff. However, to their credit, No Swoon make lots and lots of this feel fresh again.
Opener "Don't Wake Up, Wake Up" is more Berlin than My Bloody Valentine, but "Faces" and "Kate" are very reminiscent of stuff from 4AD legends Swallow. If those cuts, as well as the light "Saturn Ring", echo numbers from past giants of the form, some of this, like "What Happens", also bears a passing resemblance to recent releases from Rose Elinor Dougall.
Tasha Abbott is a superb vocalist and she gives these songs at lot of power, while the electronic textures, from Zack Nestel-Patt, are nearly just as engaging. This isn't the most original sort of music to make in 2019 but at least No Swoon are invested in this material emotionally, with lots and lots of No Swoon being far more enjoyable than lots of what's out there today with the dream-pop label on it.
No Swoon is out on Friday via Substitute Scene Records.
More details on No Swoon via the band's official Facebook page.