Audiopile Review: The recent trend of electronic and experimental-leaning artists drifting into indie/pop-adjacent territory is well documented by now, with recent lateral shifts from the likes of Ben Bondy, Suzanne Kraft, Jack J, and Priori. But few releases floored us quite like Naemi’s 2024 shop favourite Dust Devil. A far cry from the frenetic and dubby electronics associated with their exael moniker, Dust Devil embraced a dreamy, ambient sound that placed vocalists at the forefront, a scene shifting move that landed far closer to dream pop than it did vapour dub. Now, barely a year later, Naemi returns with Breathless, Shorn, issued via Ulla’s recently minted 28912 label, diving deeper into that hazy, sun-dappled dreamscape we’re still willfully lost in. Both nostalgic and forward-looking, the towering guitars, ghostly vocals, flecks of drum and bass and shimmering ambiance are woven together with Naemi’s singular attention to texture. Nearly impossible to place in time, this comes tipped equally for fans of revivalists like Hotline TNT, new-school favourites Knifeplay or genre giants Ride and MBV. If Dust Devil introduced us to Naemi’s ambitious range, Breathless, Shorn cements them as not just an electronic artist dabbling in shoegaze or dream pop, but an artist fully at home in both worlds. Edition of 500—don’t sleep.

Naemi follows last year’s excellent Erika de Casier-starring ‘Dust Devil’ with a genius new album of ultra-catchy, perfectly executed shoegaze diamonds, powered by Ulla on drums and additional vox, flutes and extra vocals by Baptist Goth, and fuzz guitar by Kouhei – big big tip if yr into MBV, Lush or Belong, and brought to you via Ulla’s fledgling 28912 label.

‘Breathless Shorn’ is the Berlin-based Kansas-born producer’s most compelling move thus far, featuring 11 perfectly fuzzed songs that almost completely shake off any electronic remnants in favour of a light-touched act of MBV worship. Naemi has long nurtured an obsession with vintage dreampop and shoegaze, but until now they mostly blurred those influences with dubby ambience and delicate, heart-slicing production. On ‘Breathless Shorn’ they completely re-draw their outlines, bristling with a much looser energy in a mode that feels like a big step up – more impactful, full of easy swagger and a bona fide emotional resonance.

Distorted, tremolo-bent guitars, boxy drums, electric bass and delirious multi-tracked vocals are the backbone here, mostly sounding like they could have been lifted off Kevin Shields’ ‘Ecstasy and Wine’ sessions. Naemi’s attention to detail is remarkable; no longer leaning on electronic masking or the influence of ’90s British slacker rawk or twee pop, instead deploying the genuine article, with ambient music left as just a faint note wafting in the background.

Impactful and addictive, a true rinse-and-repeat album – one of the best we’ve heard this year.