soft candy: bixarre luv pyramids/song for ellie mae

A truly sophisticated pop band that knows its way around the Byrds/Beatles/Zombies/Love territory quite well, Soft Candy recently came out of dormancy after being out of commission for a couple years when one of the original band members left town. The band reconfigured and bounced back and just in time for a debut single rich with flourishes that eerily echo those riveting Fading Yellow vibes and hazy UK dream pop that always delivered on such labels at Parlophone, Hansa, Deram, and Harvest, of course. Their command of their instruments is impeccable, their bizarre stage presence always provocative, and this double A-side of impenetrable songs are just too torturous for you to pass up. Angelic baroque pop entranced with hypnotic rhythms, delivered with genuine style, there really just isn't much on this level.