by Dan Goldin (@post_trash_)
The great Slumberland 30th Anniversary single series is coming to a close, but we’ll always have the memories. Since the series began, the legendary label has shared singles from Lake Ruth, Wildhoney, Rat Columns, Failed Flowers, and many others. Rounding it all out are new singles from Neutrals and London fuzz pop merchants Flowers. The band are set to release Erik, their first single since 2017, on December 4th as the series’ final installment. They have already shared the big fuzz swoon of the A-side and we’re excited to share the record’s b-side, the sparse and dreamy “Candour”.
The song works on a slow build, with something akin to tension, or at least as much tension as you’re going to get from a band that excels at dream pop. It’s bare bones and stunning, like listening to a PJ Harvey demo, but with that power-pop penchant of Flowers hiding just beneath the surface. While void of an actual rhythm (this one is just guitar and vocals), the band bring “Candour” to life in a captivating way - one that doesn’t necessarily take any sharp turns but always feels as though it could. The vocals are gentle while the guitar’s rattle offers a juxtaposing rawness, the perfect framework to the song’s refrain, “I want to know when it’s over.”