Goodbye Wudaokou: Something Of Us
Out Now
CD/Streaming
Goodbye Wudaokou return with Something Of Us, following 2024’s debut Mirror Skies
‘Manchester’s Mat Mills makes heartfelt lo-fi indie and dream pop, with hints of shoegaze and 90s alt rock’, says the press launch. Listening to Something Of Us for the primary time, you may’t argue with any of that. Musically nostalgic and acquainted however with a freshness about it, in an analogous vein to the likes of Assistant and Lovejoy.
Bearing on themes of misplaced love, misplaced youth, legacy, and the wonder and hazard of dwelling previously, Mat explores the poppy dreamy universe he created with final 12 months’s debut album throughout 11 heartfelt tracks, taking up influences from UK Indie staples reminiscent of of The Area Mice, New Order, The Railway Youngsters and the Wedding ceremony Current to US imports, such Dinosaur Jr, REM, Nada Surf, and Sonic Youth. If this was 1989 Goodbye Wudaokou would most actually be getting featured on Snub TV.
Something Of Us does really feel barely extra pressing and grittier than Mirror Skies nevertheless it stays unashamedly pop and proudly lo-fi. I can truly think about first discovering the band on a Sarah Data assortment, wedged in between singles by One other Sunny Day and The Sea Urchins.
The primary observe to be launched from the album was the Solely Questions, a ‘jangly, fizzy pop music about first loves, their tendency to fail and the marks they depart’ which demonstrates the urgency I used to be referring to, while Loop Again To Us is much less frantic with chiming guitars… and one other music about misplaced love and making an attempt to go away the previous previously. Equally nostalgic is All the time Wanting Backwards, which sees the swap from UK to US indie. Lyrically about is about lacking your teenage mates and realising there are specific issues you may’t get again you may hear a Lemonheads affect (circa It’s A Disgrace About Ray).
Something Of Us isn’t an idea album nevertheless one returning theme all through is the various kinds of love one can expertise in a life time – the frenzy of latest love, the fleeting love that also leaves a mark, unrequited love and the complexities of affection and life in a long-term relationship… which is probably a very good time to say that Mill’s ‘higher half’ Desiree Xu, offers further backing vocals on a number of the tracks.
Making an attempt to select a ‘favorite’ observe from the album is a thankless activity because it differs on each hear, the album being essentially the most constant I’ve heard for a very long time. That mentioned the shimmering epic Everlasting Move (Suzhou Flowers) is fairly particular with an surprising twist in its third act…
In Something Of Us, Goodbye Wudaokou / Mat Mills have delviered one among my hightlights of 2025
Bought extra info on the artist go to Fb / X-Twitter and BlueSky
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All phrases by Iain Key. See his writer profile right here or discover him through his LinkTree
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