Review Summary: A late 2021 sleeper, well-executed dream pop with a wider-than-expected sonic canvas
No, “Penelope Isles” are not some untouched South Pacific island chain. Instead, it’s the moniker of a British musical group who just released their second album, following 2019’s well-received debut
Until The Tide Creeps In . Penelope Isles’ genre tendencies can best be classified as dream pop, and they garner a little extra cachet due to being under the banner of the respected Bella Union label, formed by members of the dream pop pioneers Cocteau Twins.
The sunny vibes of
Which Way To Happy may be ill-timed as most of the album's listeners slide headlong into shorter days and chillier temperatures, but there’s not much else to gripe about regarding this sophomore effort. Not only have Penelope Isles mastered the essential elements which permeate the (all too) homogenous contemporary dream pop scene, but they’ve managed to craft what represents (for their scene) an unusually varied listen. The album’s first few songs see the band at their most elemental, producing smooth and shimmery tunes which call to mind a more overtly dreamy version of a band like Alvvays. From there, though, things are diversified. “Play It Cool” adds some 90s indie-esque whining guitar solos to its floaty essence, followed by “Iced Gems”, a highlight as the most unrelentingly poppy number on offer. "Sailing Still” sees the band slow things down for a gorgeous and contemplative listen to round out the first half. The second half isn’t to be outdone either, though. The washed out guitar in the latter stages of “Sudoku” might be the album’s most blissful moment, while the sultry “Pink Lemonade” and the closing duet of the depressive “11 11” and the minimal “In A Cage” show off more of the band’s diverse incarnations. All told,
Which Way To Happy manages to capably demonstrate the collective's ability to evoke assorted moods ranging from carefree to somber.
Penelope Isles never stray
too far from the expected confines of their dream pop origins, but they certainly keep things interesting nonetheless, blending the usual overlapping influences of shoegaze and indie rock with an occasional alt-rock edge and even periodic hints of an experimental bent. For now, the end result is a record which does a lot of things quite well and rarely if ever misses, even if it never quite strikes fully unique territory. Penelope Isles is undoubtedly a group to check for lovers of dream pop and adjacent genres, but both of their first two albums offer glimmers of hope that they’ve got even more still concealed up their sleeves. Stay tuned, folks!
