Vanishing into the wind as quickly as it arrives, this short but comforting two-song release from Vancouver quartet Ramen Fog will leave the listener longing for more.
Spring has sprung in Vancouver. The cherry blossoms are blooming, the tulips are bursting from the earth, and the warming sands of the city’s many beaches are beckoning visitors. This warmth can also be felt in Vancouver’s music scene, as local band Ramen Fog’s two-song release Solar System proudly demonstrates.
“I want people to resonate with the warm nostalgia of looking back on a summer fling,” said lead Amy Tan of the release. Both tracks , “Solar System” and “Coconut,” melt in the listener’s mind, providing a comforting backdrop to the warming weather. The former track features smooth, plucky guitars that serve as a foundation for Tan’s clean and soft vocals, which are undoubtedly the project’s highlight. The backing vocals add warmth, while subtle horns provide depth to the acoustic landscape. Though the vocals become somewhat lost in the mix during the chorus, they soon shine again as Tan’s voice soars and plunges with grace. The track proceeds into an interlude that allows the horns and guitar to take centre stage, with the latter powering into a solo that provides variety but ultimately underdelivers in texture and tone.
“Coconut” is seemingly a fusion between Peach Pit and Winona Forever, yet again featuring Tan’s silky, catchy vocals. Warm keys in the background layer on top of the elegant guitar, buoyant bass, and crisp drumming of band members Rowan McDonald, Torrey McKee, and Adam Gold, respectively. “Sunny disposition / The sunshine on your face /… / If you look a little closer, maybe you will see / Let me give you a little company.” As the track fades away, I close my eyes and hear the seagulls call to me. The warm ocean beckons.
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