Paradise on Planet Popstar

ブレイクスルーを果たしたデビューアルバムに続く新たなコンピレーション作品。2023年発表のデビューEP『Paradise』に新たに6曲を収録したEP『Planet Popstar』を追加。新EP『Planet Popstar』は、The New York Times、GQ、Alt Press、Paste、Stereogum、Uproxx、NMEといった各メディアの「年間ベスト」リストしたデビュー作の制作セッションから生まれたB面トラックを中心に構成。KrauterとPitchkitesの間に生まれた希有な音楽的シナジーに支えられた『Planet Popstar』はバンドのここ数年の軌跡を断片的に切り取ったスナップショットのような作品です。

Following the release of their celebrated debut album, 2024s Triple Seven, noisy, romantic indie stylists Wishy return less than a year later with something old and something new. The compilation Paradise on Planet Popstar brings together their 2023 EP, Paradise, and six new songs dubbed Planet Popstar. Spoiler alert: the latters ultra-fuzzy, gushing title track ("Love at the speed of light") is one of the highlights here. But first, in case you missed it, Paradise offers five slightly melancholier tracks that demonstrate that Wishy arrived as a concept pretty much fully formed by what was their second EP, with its intriguing mix of boy songs, girl songs, boy-girl songs, hazy dream pop, buzzy shoegaze, bouncy jangle, and rich harmonic palettes -- and just a touch of prog rock. The new EP adopts a more uplifting outlook on average, beginning with the laid-back and breezy "Fly," a Nina Pitchkites-led tune that references Ace of Base before she reveals, "I found a way/To be grateful every day." Kevin Krauter takes the lead on the aforementioned "Planet Popstar" as well as on the more reflective and intricate "Over and Over." The sets three remaining tracks maintain a warm and blurry soundscape and contemplative, affectionate tone, with "Portal" embracing a trip-hop-adjacent beat, and with closer "Slide" riding along an ambling groove that fades out seemingly into the sunset. With all of these releases arriving relatively closely together and adopting such a similar production and songwriting approach, Paradise on Planet Popstar serves as a fine alternate entry point to the band. ~ Marcy Donelson