Craft Spells - Gallery

Remember the time when The Drums were hailed as the saviours of music with their retro-rock-jingle-pop? Craft Spells are riding on a similar wave. Maybe too similar.

Channeling the very distinct tones of New Order’s pop years blended with a little bit of miserablism in the spirit of forgotten New York band Elephant, The Smiths or even Interpol, Craft Spells do really wear their hearts on their sleeves - their nerdy wooly jumper sleeves that is.

Craft Spells’ dreamboat army Justin Vallesteros, Jack Smith, Peter Michel and Javier Suarez present us with their new EP ‘Gallery’ – gentle dreamy and reverb-washed, hypnotic indie power pop at its best. Easy listening but not totally original.

EP opener ‘Still Left With Me’ is drenched in California sunny vibes and could easily be the Yang to The Drums “Best Friend” Ying. ‘Warmth’ is a synth paean awash with wispy vocals and heavy hearts, while the eponymous ‘Gallery’ could easily be the theme tune to a particularly anguished Gossip Girl episode.

‘Gallery’ is an enjoyable offering from Craft Spells – loner pop that will speak to nostalgic beat ballad lovers as much as it will be embraced by the heartbroken and emotionally starved.