Berlin-based producer Naemi takes a smartly realised, utterly brazen left-turn into heart-on-sleeve shoegaze dynamics with third LP, Breathless, Shorn. Previous album, Dust Devil, was a feature heavy excursion into contemporary ambient that made direct connections with the electronic elite underground (Huerco S, Erika de Cassier, NAP, Perila, Pontiac Streator++) and some vague gestures towards dreampop aesthetics without fully nailing anything truly distinct (which was perhaps the point). Now out on their own, and partnering with Ulla's relatively fresh 28912 imprint, the MBV worship is embraced head on. Depending on your tolerance for such things, you could go either way on this one, but there's absolutely no doubting the attention to detail, perfectly nailing that combination of tremolo-guitar sensuality, under the gloom heartbreak vocals and dreamstate glaze. It's the kind of sound that's incredibly popular right now (and the reason why people are paying $4000 for vintage Ride t-shirts), and so astutely does Breathless, Shorn get the finer points right you could see this one really catching a wave, that on-the-money mix of nostalgia, romance and teen-bedroom confessional. We call it shoegaze, but really, is this the new emo? The reverence to the masters is certainly real, and its heart is unashamedly on its sleeve. Such sincerity can be hard to resist.
FFO: My Bloody Valentine, Slowdive, Grouper, Alex G, Beach House
Naemi - Breathless, Shorn
£24.00
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