Atmos Bloom have been on our collective radar here at DKFM for some time now. The Manchester UK based two-piece have been responsible for some pretty luscious dream pop tracks. Their self-titled debut EP from 2020 set the bar high, so when I heard that Curtis Paterson & Tilda Gratton were set to release their debut album, I had to check it out.
Flora sees the duo honing their bedroom pop aesthetic to fine edge. Presenting us with a sound that could’ve sprung from the hotbed of dreampop that is modern-day Chicago.
Let’s dive in and see what they have in store for us.
The album opens on the subdued ‘When We Met’. Fans of DEHD will find a lot to love here. Chiming guitars lead the way as we enter the hazy dreamy world of Atmos Bloom. Gratton sings of her longing to roll the clock back and go back to “when we met”.
Switching the pace up completely comes the indie pop banger that is ‘Daisy’. It’s foot to the floor for this absolute beauty of a song. The overlapping vocal lines at the end are a particular highlight for me.
No sooner has it begun than ‘Daisy’ comes to an end and we move into the moody ‘Something Other Than You’. This song is grander in scale than anything we have heard from the band to date. It’s wonderfully dynamic moving from the quiet and considered verses to the soaring abandon of the chorus refrain. Undoubtedly my album highlight.
‘Picnic in the Rain’ follows with its carefully-picked melody. The succinct and airy verses bloom into a chorus that has dual guitars and vocals. All coming together in a jubilant celebration like fireworks in the dark.
We move into the ballad ‘Time’ next with its programmed beats and lead bass line. It’s on tracks like this you can see why Spirit Goth had to bring them under their label, as it really demonstrates what bedroom pop is capable of becoming. This is special stuff.
They strip their sound to the bare bones for ‘Almost Natural’. Of all the tracks on the album you can really hear the Manchester sound coming through in the guitar melody. It’s just lovely. The chorus vocal line is also sublime. The Primitives would kill for this song.
All too soon the album comes to its final track. ‘Morning Sun’ moves at a deliberate, considered pace. Loads of room in the vocals which I love. There’s great use of dynamics throughout keeping the listener on their toes. The final minute is particularly impressive with its multi-layered vocal and soaring backing. The perfect way to close out this trip into the world of Atmos Bloom.
Flora does a great job of moving the band’s sound ever onward with more complex, dynamic arrangements and a confidence in their performance that’s sure to win them a whole new swathe of fans across the globe.
Flora is out now on Spirit Goth and available over on Bandcamp. Make sure and follow Atmos Bloom on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
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