“The sun will rise for us again.”
Modern pop rock outfit FLOYA boast some unexpected yet impressive credentials. The duo from Germany consist of Phil Bayer, former vocalist of progressive metal band Time, The Valuator, and Marv Wilder, former guitarist of metalcore band Alazka. From these considerably heavier roots grew a synth-heavy, EDM-infused pop rock sound. Making their debut in 2022, FLOYA embarked on a rather lengthy rollout of singles that culminate toward their first studio album, Yume.
During his tenure in Time, The Valuator, Bayer’s vocals were a notably iconic element of the band’s music. His powerful, soaring vocal style boasts an impressive stability, suavely delivering impactful hooks. He exercises versatility in FLOYA, adapting his voice to fit a sound that is a lot less complex than his former band’s. Combined with the sparkly, uplifting instrumentation by Wilder, the result is a style that is accessible, yet unique.
This overall style is quite well demonstrated by “The Hymn”. The track is packed with delectable guitar licks from Wilder, giving its composition a level of nuance. Culminating in an impressive solo, the song displays a complexity impressively condensed into an easy to listen to sound. “Stay” makes use of melodic future bass sensibilities to create something dreamy and euphoric. This blend of electronic rock is one that is quite enjoyable, one that doesn’t sacrifice technical skill to create something simpler on the surface.
“Drift” takes a more production-focused direction, fully leaning into the electronics for most of the track. With an adventurous sound almost reminiscent of Owl City, it’s an interesting change of pace mid-album. Different, yet not straying from the group’s sound, it showcases the range of the duo. The track eventually builds back into their familiar rock sound, filling the sound with a floaty tremolo lead.
The album has its slower, more emotional moments, best displayed by “Epiphany”. The track gives more space for a lot more ambience, fitting for its more wistful nature. Although Bayer has a penchant for ensnaring hooks, the chorus melodies on this track are some of the most captivating. The influence of the duo’s previous projects are quite apparent on the track, executed in a more polished and straightforward fashion. “Epiphany” stands as one of the duo’s best tracks in my opinion, as they have effectively crafted something beautifully emotional. This ambience-heavy rock direction follows on “Lights Out”, with its swaying 6/8 composition adding to the dreaminess of the track.
The album closes on its title track. I’m a sucker for tracks that build up in a cinematic fashion, and this one does it beautifully. The title of the album being the Japanese word for “dream”, the track definitely accomplishes that in multiple ways, be it sonically or lyrically. Most of the album’s lyrical content centres around Bayer’s journey to this point, and this closer provides a sense of closure to this chapter of his life. All these elements make for quite an impactful end to the album.
Despite most of the album being released as singles, Yume does flow surprisingly well as an album, with an impressive range to the duo’s sound. The manner in which FLOYA displays their creativity isn’t in-your-face, but it is pushed just enough to make it notable. The duo has definitely drawn a lot of influence from their previous bands into this project, and their execution of pop-oriented this style is done with intention and purpose. Amidst its shimmering soundscapes is an album that is quite personal, and there’s a lot to appreciate in the meaning behind its songs. As a whole, Yume is a delightful album to listen to; one that works equally well either for easy listening or a more detailed listen.
8/10
Yume releases on the 8th of March via Arising Empire. Pre-order links for the album can be found here, and the band’s merch can be found here.