Pumice - Phylis [CD]

2022 release. Pumice returns with an exquisite experimental bathroom sink pop record in hand, dubbed Phylis. This time out the long-running Aotearoa band, currently a duo consisting of Stefan Neville and Jade Farley, fracture sore thumbed folk songs into crumpled bricks with riffs written on the toilet. Wonky South Pacific skiffle careens into heady organ dirges followed by galloping blurts of afterlife feedback. As ever texture and accidents rub up against melodies, rhythms are not strict and words are grubby. But with Phylis, the restless band tenders it's most exuberant, straightforward and enjoyable pop record yet.