Mundy’s Bay debut album is perhaps one of the most charming and addictive releases you will hear over this year.
Lonesome Valley blend of dream pop, shoegaze and post-punk is engaging from start to finish. Following the promising and quite interesting releases of 2017’s Wandering & Blue EP and 2019’s Control Room EP, the band teamed up with legendary producer/engineer Kurt Ballou (Joyce Manor, Converge, Code Orange) to bring their first full-length to life.
“We wanted to let it develop naturally and tried a lot of different styles when we first started playing together,” guitarist Victor Beaudoin explains. On their debut full-length, the Montreal-based four-piece provide more than adequate genre diversity, perfect to elevate Esther Mulders heartwarming vocal harmonies. Lonesome Valley sounds confident and ambitious, there are no loose ends, a deeply touching and expansive effort with the ability to sound as relaxing as invigorating.
Somewhere between Alvvays indie pop, Field Mouse dreamy shoegaze and The Smiths tenderness, Mundy’s Bay punk roots are all over their sound, but it’s the way their distinguish themselves from any kind of specific genre what makes them one of the most exciting new acts around.
This is a band with a knack for melody, that are not afraid to explore and push-forward to new or unknown grounds and that have sharpened their focus without losing sight of themselves. Well done!