Cloud
Zen Summer
[Paper Trail]
The much anticipated first release from Dublin DIY label, Paper Trail, has finally landed and it’s been worth the wait. From the get-go Zen Summer elicits the feeling of toasting one’s forearm out an open car window, moving quickly, squinting into the horizon, destination inconsequential. The sophomore release from the New York based bedroom-pop concern exponentially increases in scope from debut Comfort Songs. Where previously Cloud leant heavily on the tropes of ’90s indie rock – from Pavement to Galaxie 500 – they now draw from the majesty of Panda Bear’s seminal Person Pitch, albeit without merely aping Mr. Noah’s masterpiece. Points of auditory inspiration, though pronounced, intertwine to create a satisfyingly individual whole.
Even though the dream-pop/chillwave boom of recent history managed to go from refreshing to borderline insufferable in what felt like record time, Zen Summer’s tracks through similar sonic terrain retain a sense of vital singularity or, at the very least, the individual voice of an artist as opposed to another faceless proponent of an imagined, tumblr-centric scene. Guitars chime, half overheard conversations waft in over soothing synth washes, and the whole thing exudes a contented calm; an inviting canvas imploring listeners to ‘create memories here’.
Words: Danny Wilson
Like this? Try these:
Panda Bear – Person Pitch
Alex G – DSU
Virgo Indigo – Fog Lake
