Joywave is ascending, and there is no doubt about it. Their most recent album, Possession, is spacey, comforting, inquisitive, and groovy, all in one package. They poke fun at modern problems to minimize them, and then establish what they really care about. On “Like a Kennedy”, they sing, “Do you think they’ll build a wall? I don’t know. I just want to be fat and old and happy.” This type of playfulness is timely and refreshing in a time when we are consumed by anxiety. Other tracks focus on catchy repetitive builds-ups and synth bass lines, which cement this album as a must hear of 2020.
Release date: March 13, 2020
Similar artist(s): MISSIO, Saint Motel
Top tracks: Half Your Age, Like a Kennedy, Blastoffff, Obsession