Vaarwell – Homebound 456
CD / DL
Out Now
Out Now
8.5 / 10
Portuguese alternative dream pop trio release their debut album.
This is special. This
is a glossy, clinical, angelic album that is an absolute delight from first
listen to the latest. By their own
description, Margarida Falcao, Ricardo Nagy and Luis Monteiro are ‘mellow,
simple and genuine’, and of that there can be no doubt. Think of a lush melting point of Emiliana
Torrini, Phildel and Ummagma with the occasional sprinkling of dreamgaze and
the scene will be set.
Hailing from Lisbon, the trio formed in 2014 after being in
the same music production class at art school their sound is said to represent
the city’s diverse blend of culture and nightlife. Gentle vocals meet pure electronica with the
occasional soft percussion and guitar thrown in for good measure.
Album opener, and second single Untitled is a stunning introduction. Falcao’s quite gorgeous vocals carry the
track for well over two minutes before a militarian drumbeat makes a brief appearance. It’s a track that is almost unbelievable in
its simplicity and is incredibly infectious along the way.
The theme of effortlessness continues through second track
Floater and American Dream tickles the boundaries of shoegaze with a hook that
is very difficult to let loose. It’s
easy to focus on the delicate vocals but let’s not forget the perfect
accompanying backing from the male contingent of Vaarwell (roughly translated from
the Dutch for ‘farewell’) which is as equally essential to their sound.
There are two semi-instrumentals in Terminals and Still Me
which act as anchors pulling the other tracks together, the former containing
tiny soundbytes from a train station intercom.
The album highlight comes in the shape of I Never Go I Leave which is
one of those songs that instantly resonates giving the feeling that you’ve
heard it sometime before. Once more, the
art of near perfect pop is attained.
Catchy, simple, effective – faultless.
As the album comes to a close, the title track appears with
some lovely percussive patter and innocently inserted echoes, its sublime, as
is the rest of the album. Perfect for
chilling, perfect for driving to, just perfect on so many levels. A ‘must listen’ album if ever there was one,
and one which will soon be heading for many a cd shelf in many a home.
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