Yumi Zouma - EP III

Yumi Zouma
EP III
2018
Spotify

I've written about nearly everything that Yumi Zouma has put out for one reason, I love them. Their music is warm hazy pop that constantly feels light and beautiful. This new EP EP III is one of their most luxurious yet. The New Zealand indie group brings you into their sweeping easy world with each note, the lightest touch making the biggest impact. If you are looking for some large departure, or glacial shift in style this is not the EP for you. The new album follows their formula almost to a T, but dials it in so well that you don't even care. The record is also short enough to not make the vibe feel like it is overstaying it's welcome. They are plain and simple pretty love songs that give you enough bop to make you sway right along. It is interesting to hear a band dial in their sound this tightly, but for them and for some reason here it works. I am usually the biggest critic of people repeating themselves, but I allow Yumi Zouma a pass because it sounds so damn good. Instead of unbridled passion Yumi Zouma find their strength is loving gently, and massaging their sound out slowly. Songs unfold in front of you and the distant vocals ask you to approach rather than demanding that you do so. Their lyrics can be a bit one note, especially with just four tracks but on EP III they do enough to keep them varied.

"Powder Blue/Cascine Park" has this flowing quality to it, where it builds and builds then just falls over a gentle cliff like a water slide. Everything about their music, even though it's synth driven at times, feels really natural. The one downer is that I really don't know how to further describe this band, because I feel like I have said it all. They are one of those bands that I need you to trust me on. I remember bringing a friend to one of their shows and them being super skeptical, but now they listen to every new release. Yumi Zouma continue to put out solid record after solid record and this one is no exception. A wonderfully pleasent journey for anyone who wants to take it with them.

7.7 out of 10