Strawberry Generation - Afloat
STRAWBERRY GENERATION SHIMMERS ON ‘AFLOAT’
From Providence, Rhode Island, indie-pop/shoegaze/twee-pop outfit Strawberry Generation released their debut album, Afloat, a few months ago via Sunday Records. And it’s a gem.
Strawberry Generation
It is doubtful I would have come across this wonderful album if it weren’t for Helen over at She Makes Music, a fantastic UK blog covering excellent music. Be sure to check it out.
The band began life as a duo, the project of Valerie Zhu (vocals, sax) and Luk Yean (guitar, vocals), but then added Alejandro Subiotto Marqués (drums), Dan Davis (guitar), and Max Naftol (bass). The name – Strawberry Generation – is a reference to Millennials, who are ostensibly spoiled brats and wilt when exposed to any type of heat. Essentially, it refers to wimps or snowflakes; people wrapped in cotton and mollycoddled their whole lives.
Members of the band are from Singapore, Belgium, and the U.S. Similar to the band’s lineup, Afloat’s genesis was diverse. Written and recorded in Providence, the band took the songs out for a test drive on their UK tour, performing at Indietracks 2019. The album was produced and mixed in Singapore by Raphael Michael Ong (Sobs), Bo Zhang (Cosmic Child), and Luk.
“East George” blends ‘80s new wave flavors with hints of surf-pop, rife with luminous hues and glossy flow.
With 10-tracks, the album commences with “Intro,” a short rainbow-colored instrumental providing a foretaste of what follows. The title track opens on hefty jangly guitars flowing into a percolating indie-pop melody topped by delicious dulcet vocals, backed by soft crystalline harmonies.
Highlights on Afloat include “When You Were Here And I Was Sad,” traveling on effervescent, almost new wave colors, supported by a crunching rhythm. Jangly-lite guitars infuse the tune with gleaming textures, while Valerie’s glowing, honeyed tones glide overhead, like sunlight reflecting off the glass-smooth surface of a lake.
“Hannah” features layers of jangly guitars, twinkling and glistening with hazy facades. Bright and breezy, the melody gallops forward with tantalizing driving energy riding gracious metallic undertones. “East George” blends ‘80s new wave flavors with hints of surf-pop, rife with luminous hues and glossy flow. This is my personal favorite on the album, simply because of its yummy shimmering imminence.
“Tango” ventures forth on dream-pop savors, lustrous with spangled accents and scrumptiously mellow vocals.
With Afloat, Strawberry Generation delivers music with sonic beauty so extraordinary it seems to have vitality all its own. Don’t miss this one!
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