To varying degrees, I’ve been following Yumi Zouma since their early days. Now, at over 600,000 monthly Spotify listeners, the group have reached a grand audience for their unique blend of post-punk, lounge, and lofi. Present Tense, the most recent full-length, shows the band exhibit their nostalgic, happy-sad sound across ten tracks. They’re ethereal but still commercial – vocals are drenched in reverb, synths glisten, and piano hooks cement the group as experimental pop geniuses.

But rest assured, there’s enough substance here to keep from ever veering too far into the abstract. The veneer of these songs might be hazy at times, but the core is refined and memorable. Fans of Kitten and Foxes will feel at home with the 80s flavors at play here and general atmosphere.

The album is far from a demanding listen, flowing smoothly from song to song with just enough punch to keep attention. As you might expect, it also plays well for casual contexts where it’s non-intrusive background music.

There’s been a resurgence on many of the styles here, but most bands take far too narrow an approach in executing. Here, Yumi Zouma channel Cyndi Lauper as much as they embody The Cure; the tracks still feel cohesive, but the sonic palette is broad. But none of it feels forced or overly-artistic. “Give It Hell” isn’t too far from modern pop, mixing a punchy bass line with strong vocal and piano lines. “Razorblade” feels like a gossamer take on Suzanne Vega. And “Astral Projection” sees overlapping vocal parts and icy guitar ought to draw interest from fans of Cocteau Twins. Not many artists can lay claim to this.

Ultimately, the record could best be described as inoffensive. That’s not to say it doesn’t push boundaries in some respects, as the diversity is admirable – but it does so with gentleness. It’s mood music, but the mood isn’t too strong one way or another. It’d suit a day at the beach or a city drive at night equally well. Yumi Zoumi again have given listeners a strong set of songs that proves the merit of their meteoric rise.