Having grown up on a shared love of classic rock staples such as U2, Peter Gabriel, and Sting, it seemed only natural that Phil Bayer and Marv Wilder would join forces. When their respective bands came to an end, it hastened their union, and it’s come to fruition in their new project FLOYA. Music without frontiers is their only manifesto and the resulting album Yume is an emotionally-charged listen, and one that should shoot them towards their wildest dreams.
If it is possible to fall in love with a sound, then I’m completely smitten with that which emanates from my speakers by way of an introduction to opening track ‘Stay’. It seems as if a great deal of effort has been expended on creating just the right ambience, and that employed here reaches deep into the listeners psyche and gives the heartstrings a good tug. When combined with the old school telephone ringtone (always a sorrowful sound) that bookends the song we’re left with an emotional experience in ‘Stay’, and one that clings to your memory bank like a limpet.
The songs that comprise Yume soundtrack those life-changing moments; the end of a relationship or a new career in a strange town, and you feel that with the likes of ‘Drift’ on your playlist nothing could go wrong. While this album might not be heavy in the Nirvana drums-in-spin-cycle kind of way, it pulls on another, almost weightier, type of heaviness that derives power from an almost indefinable quality in much the same way that early Smiths records did, and just like Morrissey and Co, Yume is made for dancing and romancing.
The musical freedom with which FLOYA have been bestowed also comes with a responsibility; the sound created shouldn’t be too eclectic and esoteric. FLOYA are a duo who understand this very well, and despite the varying influences they’ve pulled from, Yume flows exceptionally smoothly. It has the feel of an old school album which lifts the listener up on feathered wings before dropping them down to earth, yet there’s an overall arc that curves upwards towards the majestic title-track. While it’s perfectly feasible to dip in and out, Yume is an album and should be appreciated as such.
This record has definite crossover appeal, so it will be interesting to see what inroads FLOYA will make. Yet, just like their soaring sound, the sky really is the limit.
- Yume is released via Arising Empire on 8th March 2024.
- Official Website
Track List:
- Stay
- Willows
- Wonders
- Drift
- The Hymn
- Weaver
- Epiphany
- Florescent
- Lights Out
- Yume
