From The Vault: Pia Fraus "After Summer"

Estonian shoegaze? Yes please!

Good morning!

Today we’re taking a quick look at “After Summer” by Pia Fraus

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Does anyone know how to say “Shoegaze” in Estonian?

Pia Fraus is a Tallinn, Estonia-based band first formed in 1998. They describe themselves as “…a sublime mixture of dream-pop, subtle shoegaze, and beautiful electronica all topped off blissfully with shimmering layered vocalisations.”

That sounds about right.

For a record titled “After Summer,” this sure feels sunny, each track taking me to a different happy place.

The usual influences are all here; MBV, Ride, Slowdive, etc.

So are the usual ingredients; lofty vocals, warm synths, and jangly guitars. Don’t mistake that as derivative, though; After Summer is a sound all its own.

“Yenissey” is poppy and delightful. A field trip to a land awash in yellows and lemonade. “Doctor Optimism” is a deep groove with lopping guitars and a soft chorus of “ahs” layered across the top.

The title track anchors the center and is the best song on the album.

At first, it feels like you’ll listen to an ambient track. When you’ve prepared for that, the drums and guitar jump on board and take the track into high gear. The result is impressive.

While the title track holds the center, it’s bookended by strong tracks on both sides.

Too often, overall quality gets lower as the numbers go higher. Not here.

After Summer starts strong and carries its momentum right through the final note of “Far Fade Whisper.”

Summers may fade, but this record doesn’t.

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More:

The Estonia I (don't really) know is the kind of place where dismal England teams drop points in vital European Championship qualifiers; I never imagined young musicians listening to battered old copies of Loveless and forming shoegaze bands there. It turns out that this does happen. In fact, having had the chance to quietly develop their sound away from spotlight, Pia Fraus might just be the best band I've heard in this genre since Danish dream-poppers Rumskib a couple of years back.

Click here to read the rest of the review.

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Listen:

Pia Fraus | After Summer, 2008

Click the record to listen on your platform of choice.

Thanks for being here,

Kevin—

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An earlier version of this article first appeared here.