This is one of those famous quantum jumps. So far, New Zealand band Yumi Zouma hasn’t attracted much attention. It was nice, but also pleasant synth dream pop with some hidden ideas, but then it was more babbling. Until now.
The new album NO LOVE LOST TO KINDNESS adds guitars that extend in all directions and a wealth of dreamlike melodies to the pleasant overall picture. The songs used to rely on the velvety sound.
On their new album, Yumi Zouma have pulled out twelve songs that you no longer want to hear in passing. Synthpop has become soaring indie rock. Songs like the opener “Cross My Heart And Hope To Die”, “Blister” or the single “Phoebe’s Song” fit into a melancholic Saturday afternoon when you relax and sail through the living room with a white wine spritzer in your hand and then get ready to go out. Gentle rock shoegaze without much distortion, but with a distinct pop sensibility.
This review appears in Musikexpress 2/2026.
