bookend - Hi, hi not goodbye (Bookshelf) [Alt-Pop]

Bookend are a new alt-pop duo from London's fertile cultural and musical melting pot, consisting of Brazilian songwriter and poet Michelle Ricciardi and Japanese producer Masaaki Yoshida, better known as Anchorsong - a wholeheartedly TSMM approved supported project. The duo have previous history, with Ricciardi having previously helped out to great effect on Yoshida's solo work, but this is a whole new chapter.

It's a pretty fresh-sounding project too. First off is Ricciardi's vocal delivery. She kicks off with a half-sung looped refrain on "30 degrees" - the EP opener, probably just to ease the listener in, but it's not long before she narrates her refreshingly honest tale in her preferred sweet yet sultry, gently delivered, spoken word style. Masaaki for his part provides an equally distinctive, stripped-back, minimal house reminiscing rhythm, with little in the way of melodic adornment so as not to distract from the musing. Next up is the twee, tropcial dancehall riddim of "lighthouse" and more honest thoughts and reminiscences from Ricciardi as she continues her reflection on the modern living minefield, personal affairs of the heart and their aftermath, with the chorus piano infusion providing a rare, mainstream hook.

More quirky, playful digi-tropical beats drive, "summer love", an ode to warm weather dalliances distinctively told in spoken, sung, English and Portuguese style. Last but not least is the EP's, and probably live show, closing "vinyl on the wall", a nice slice of leftfield dance pop, with the project's telltale minimal beats, subtle hookiness and more mid-Atlantic - almost ASMR-like at times, musing from the leading lady. It's a cool, quirky project with leftfield pop appeal, that refreshing doesn't sound like too much else. Hopefully, it's not a one off.

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Playlist Companion

Find bookend in the Slow Alt-Pop Playlist.