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 possibly can’t argue with any of that. Musically nostalgic and acquainted however with a freshness about it, in the same vein to the likes of Assistant and Lovejoy.
Relating themes of misplaced love, misplaced youth, legacy, and the wonder and hazard of residing prior to now, Mat explores the poppy dreamy universe he created with final yr’s debut album throughout 11 heartfelt tracks, taking up influences from UK Indie staples similar to of The Subject Mice, New Order, The Railway Kids and the Marriage ceremony Current to US imports, such Dinosaur Jr, REM, Nada Surf, and Sonic Youth. If this was 1989 Goodbye Wudaokou would most definitely 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 really 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 monitor to be launched from the album was the Solely Questions, a ‘jangly, fizzy pop tune 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 tune about misplaced love and attempting to depart the previous prior to now. Equally nostalgic is At all times Trying Backwards, which sees the change from UK to US indie. Lyrically about is about lacking your teenage buddies and realising there are specific issues you possibly can’t get again you possibly can 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 maybe a very good time to say that Mill’s ‘higher half’ Desiree Xu, gives extra backing vocals on among the tracks.
Attempting to select a ‘favorite’ monitor from the album is a thankless job because it differs on each hear, the album being probably the most constant I’ve heard for a very long time. That mentioned the shimmering epic Everlasting Movement (Suzhou Flowers) is fairly particular with an surprising twist in its third act…
In Something Of Us, Goodbye Wudaokou / Mat Mills have delviered one in every of my hightlights of 2025
Acquired extra info on the artist go to Fb / X-Twitter and BlueSky
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All phrases by Iain Key. See his creator profile right here or discover him by way of his LinkTree
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