The band Healing Potpourri are an interesting proposition. Their throwback brand of indie recalls earlier eras' crafted pop. Still, the reality is that the production of the new album by Sean O'Hagan (The High Llamas) is what's going to draw you in. Paradise stands on its own, of course, but the Run for Cover release, out this Friday, is going to generate a lot of buzz because of O'Hagan's touch on this one.
"Truly" breezes out of the gate, bleeps and blops giving this one an infectious vibe, even as "Free" veers into exactly the same lane that Sean O'Hagan mapped out on Gideon Gaye. Simi Sohota practically purrs his vocals, but the heavy lifting of this laid-back gem is done by the arrangement itself. It's positively elegant. Elsewhere, "Terry" takes that style, adds in a dash of mid-Nineties Stereolab, and rides a joyous rhythmic hook into the sun, while "Fireworks" revs up in the style of the best Air singles.
On Paradise, Simi Sohota practically sinks into the beds of keyboards, synth-samples, and bass-lines, but the approach works. For all that sounds like High Llamas, it's also a pretty robust record at times. I mean, I'd almost trade the beautiful Llamas-ish numbers for more things like the subtly surging "Fireworks", but probably not. I say that because there's not a single dud or dull patch here on this record, and Paradise is a real gem, both melodically and stylistically.
Paradise by Healing Potpourri is out on Friday via Run for Cover.