Pop Recommendations November 2016

Review: There's something a little Air-like about Parisian combo Poom. The male/female duo shares that legendary outfit's obsession with smooth, lounge-influenced grooves, gentle psychedelia, and atmospheric compositions. Of course, they're no tribute act, with this debut album drawing on a far wider set of influences in pursuit of Balearic-minded, Gallic pop perfection. Check, for example, the piano-laden, soft-focus disco hustle of "Les Voilles", the Phoenix-ish fuzziness of "Toi Et Moi" and the Sebastian Tellier style AOR pop shuffle of "Qui Bon", which comes complete with some particularly wide-eyed guitar solos and dreamy Rhodes riffs. As debut albums go, it's quietly impressive.