Is there room for another dream-pop band? There are a lot of them, aren't there? What's funny to me, is that lots of these groups are populated by people who are not old enough to remember getting Lush albums on release date, or finding Curve singles in an import bin. However, the legacy of those acts looms very large indeed over younger outfits like Fotoform.
Centered around the winsome voice of Kim House, and the layered guitars of Geoff Cox, Fotoform make music that is all very 1992. That said, there's a lot to love on the dramatically-titled "Grief is a Garden (Forever in Bloom)". Opener "This City is Over" is spacious and engaging, while "Skimming the Surface" benefits from a slight sense of urgency in the melody. The title cut owes a huge debt to early Lush, while the more robust "Shifting Sands" succeeds thanks to nice drum-work from Michael Schorr (ex-Death Cab for Cutie).
Lots of Fotoform's work here on Grief is a Garden (Forever in Bloom) feels very, very familiar. That's not necessarily a bad thing. There's a succinctness in bringing some obvious influences into play that is impressive. And Fotoform's music is charming. The lilting voice of Kim House anchors this material, even as every cut seems about to fly away into the atmosphere. Fans of Lush, late period Cocteau Twins, and other pioneers should find this as appealing as I did.
Grief is a Garden (Forever in Bloom) by Fotoform is out on Friday. Details below.
[Photo: Jessa Carta]