Brighton band HANYA are the sort who'll get tagged with the dream-pop label a bit. I get that. There's no other quicker way to get to the appeal of the group's sound, and there is, after all, something dreamy about it thanks to the lead vocals of Heather Sheret. The outfit's Sea Shoes EP is out now via Austerity Records, and it's another in a line of fine releases from the label.
"Dream Wife" rides a cascade of hooks like some of the better numbers from Penelope Isles, while "Everyone's Tired" made me think of Welsh bands Melys and Catatonia a tiny bit. HANYA are not chasing after pop pleasures, though the tunes are accessible and catchy on their own terms, and those who grew up on a diet of Slowdive might gravitate to this quickly. Elsewhere, "Cement" reveals a debt owed to Mazzy Star, while the the sublime "I'll Do It Tomorrow" neatly blends a clear set of influences with a unique musicality. Rather than compare this to pioneers of the past, one can hear similarities here with the first few singles from modern peers Childhood.
HANYA are not making any mistakes as they craft their own brand of dreamy pop. And Sea Shoes is a short taste of the group's appeal. As long as the compositions are centered around Heather Sheret's marvelous vocals, this band is only going to climb to new heights, and earn more attenton.
Sea Shoes is out now via Austerity Records.
More details on HANYA via the band's official Facebook page.
[Photo: Austerity Records]