Pandora

An EP by Wisp. (First listen)

Released

April 5 2024 (Music Soup, Interscope)

Recorded

Natalie’s room

Produced by

Photographic Memory, Kraus, Grayskies, Elliott Kozel

Listening context

Work

Device

Phone (no earbuds)

After receiving a link from my wife with a description of “Deftones with a front woman”, its safe to say I was intrigued.

From the start of the opening track, Pandora, Wisp’s voice seems to float over the backing giving it a very shoegaze style and very reminiscent of what Chino Moreno does with Crosses and Team Sleep, however, once the guitar and drums kick in, I can certainly hear the Deftones influences.

The drum backs the guitar in a way similar to Abe Cunningham does and the distorted guitar doesn’t overpower the vocals with them feeling light and airy over the simple guitar chord patterns.

The restraint is the real star here. Wisp could have gone full shoegaze with digital effects and soundscapes but instead she embraced the guitar and drum with simple rhythm that serves the songs.

I have to admit, I’ve done this EP a dis-service by listening on my phone speaker. Yes, they’re good enough to get the gist of the tracks you’re listening to but I struggled to hear the layering and nuance. This EP deserves good earphones or good speakers to fully appreciate it.

This is certainly a seed for a new artist who deserves applause and I’ll be putting it on my earbuds or car speakers as soon as I get the opportunity.

Click here to listen on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/album/47rlABSBChwZC7qxAKzOWw?si=AROcIxBTTf2xmZRVnc2vkQ

Click here to buy the album from Juno Records