Viji - Cali

Whether timed to coincide with the coming of spring or not, ‘Cali’ finds Viji’s soft-pop wares somewhat echoing the first buds of the season’s floral awakening. Largely bedroom pop with a studio sheen, the six-track release showcases an artist still finding her feet. There are echoes of the kind of heart-on-sleeve lyricism that takes its cues from ‘00s emo - but Viji’s laid-back delivery doesn’t quite put the message across. Similarly, while opener ‘Not Enough’ makes use of otherwise pleasingly grungy guitars, they’re inserted in a seemingly ad-hoc, aesthetic manner rather than echoing any thematic angst on show. It’s really when stripped of on-trend sonics - say, the deliciously spacey title track, or slick pop of ‘Feel It’, where we get an idea of where Viji might find herself most believable.