Toronto's cootie catcher make pop with a nervous, handmade edge on Shy at first, pulling power pop guitars, electronic beats, synths and DJ scratches into 13 short tracks. Anita Fowl's bass and vocals, Nolan Jakupovski's guitar, vocals and beat production, Sophia Chavez's synth and turntable work, and Joseph Shemoun's drums give the album a proper band feel, even when the electronics take the lead. The tracklist moves from “No scope” through “Clique clique” to “Going out in style,” with the titles suggesting a playful, slightly awkward social world without turning the music into a joke.
Released through Cooked Raw, the album was recorded in Toronto at Jerzy House and SUN BEAR during April and May 2024. Its mix of pop directness, twee-adjacent charm and homegrown electronic detail should land with people who like their power pop a little scruffy and their synths used for more than decoration. The paid release comes with FLAC, ALAC, WAV and AIFF versions, alongside vinyl and cassette editions, which feels right for a new group making bright, physical music with plenty of personality.
