Power and purity, Pumarosa are a band who thrive through a dynamic combination of dreamy electronica and intense vocal variation. The Witch is the band’s ten track debut and has certainly put their name on the map, you can be sure that Pumarosa is a name you will be hearing more and more over the coming years.

Opening the album up is ‘Dragonfly’ and the track’s psychedelic nature and first greeting to Isabel Munoz-Newsome’s stunning vocals are sublime and a characteristic which carries the rest of the album. ‘Dragonfly’ is a perfect introduction to both new followers of the band and its subtle hints of dance are definitely something you can fully submerse yourself in before continuing with the rest of the record.

Pumarosa have been beautifully able to mix delicate instrumentation with Isabel’s stunning vocals into an entire package which is truly something special. The wispy guitar solos and withheld, dampened drum beats really add to the album’s ambience meaning that during each track’s intervals you are left with the dreamy sound before being pulsed back as Isabel’s soulful tones send the track in an entirely different direction than expected. Tracks such as ‘Barefoot’ utilise a delightful use of reverb and distortion to add yet another layer of atmosphere to the record which so many modern bands fall short of, ‘Honey’ however features the far more angsty tones which adds just that additional spark to the record that is needed to break up the dreamy euphoria.

This experimental styling is only one such example of Pumarosa’s creativity, almost every song on the album holds a distinctiveness that sets itself apart from the rest yet holds a fluidity which keeps it part of a collective whole. ‘Lions’ Den’ features a fantastic use of some incredibly sombre piano and powerful imagery to pulse the track along whilst ‘My Gruesome Loving Friend’ utilises an almost 8-bit sounding synthesiser to create a dreamy, almost optimistic addition to the record. The Witch certainly holds a story and journey which many will generate their own interpretations of, the initial tracks do hold a somewhat gloomier feel however as the album heads into its later stages the once hollow sounding record begins to morph into a delightfully fulfilling contrast which feels incredibly warm.

Perhaps the one shortcoming The Witch holds is its over usage of prolonged instrumental endings. Whilst certainly adding to the album’s overall mysterious feel, it does make it harder to simply dip in and out of the record without interrupting each track’s flow, also leaving the one or two shorter tracks feeling somewhat incomplete.

Previously released track ‘Preistess’ still takes the top spot for me. This track is remarkable on all levels and has very much defined this band. The combination of dance vibes yet integration of soulful lyrics and psychedelics are mesmerising. In this case, the extended ending of saxophone solos and culmination of instrument does add an awful lot to the track and leaves you craving more.

Overall, Pumarosa’s debut is an incredibly exciting introduction to a band who certainly still have a lot more to say. Despite the lower track count, each song easily carries the weight of at least two. Pumarosa demonstrate an immense amount of creativity that few bands are able to feel. The story behind The Witch is disturbingly dismal yet simultaneously uplifting in a manner which leaves you feeling incredibly satisfied. Isabel holds one of the most unique and distinctive voices I have come across in a while and is definitely one that will set Pumarosa apart from the crowd.
Ben Walker

Website: pumarosamusic.com
Facebook: facebook.com/pumarosamusic
Twitter: twitter.com/pumarosamusic