DIY duo, Rhodri Owain T Davies and Niuhiti Gerbier, were closing in on releasing their sophomore album, ‘Hello Friends!’, as society came to a dystopian standstill in mid-March. The re-evaluated formula of the basement-pop dyad consists of a compelling anomalistic model – a series of monthly delivered singles. An unorthodox amalgamation of lethargic synth pop, the ambient lo-fi seeds of Juju Wings stem from their 2017 voyage to Northern Europe and the Pacific Islands of Tahiti.
Second instalment, ‘Escapism 101’, is a felicitous title for a placid, fanciful ode as its wave of wooziness breeds an air of leftfield idiosyncratic muse. Hypnotic rhythms soak in the synths’ sinister glow and rests unfazed by the shadowing, shallow bass. Beyond Kavinsky’s synonymous ‘Nightcall’ groove, the profoundly manipulated high pitched melodies embodies a fragmented relationship. ‘Escapism 101’ is a streamlined composition of pensive pop.
Reminiscent of their tropical pilgrimage, the accompanying music video is a stark reminder that better times are ahead: