Taffy: lull (Club AC30)

Their first release since 2019s Deep Dark Creep Love, lull is a highly welcome return from Japanese dream pop specialists Taffy.

Following the upheavals of the pandemic, during which frontwoman Iris lost several loved ones, lull is understandably melancholy. The group's melodicism and skill at minor key pop remains reliably intact mind, guided by the singer's hallmark vocals. The Tokyo outfit’s shoegazing bona fides are firmly in place, their imaginative chord sequences bathed in an atmospheric swirl of chorus and reverb.

Lead single ifonly is the shiniest gem here, a bright guitar motif that dovetails with the doom-laden lyrics “The stars are falling down”, with shhhhh, blooming from a sinister garage rock riff into a harmony bolstered Beatles-esque chorus, similarly valuable. Colour Me, led by Takeshi’s splendidly rubbery bassline and the discordant guitar lines of Five+ showcase the band’s willingness to experiment, held together, like everything here by tubthumper Ken’s excellent drumwork.

The scratchy, staccato alt. pop of Honey Milky Way contrasts with Prism 45 which stretches out via an extended coda to allow new guitarist Rio to weave a series of Verve-esque patinas. A rare cover by the band, R.E.M. deep cut Hairshirt is slowed to a glacial pace, washed with gentle feedback and underpinned by rumbling tom-toms.

Trifling concerns aside - the lovely downbeat title track is placed second when it would suit being later in the tracklisting - lull continues Taffy’s shoegazing odyssey in no small amount of style. 4/5