Tahiti 80 - Here With You

2022 release. In March 2020, Tahiti 80 had a plan to start recording an album in the studio. That plan got derailed by the Covid-19 pandemic. But the five-piece group was resilient and resourceful. They quickly shifted to a plan B that included file swapping and virtual sessions, all refereed by producer Julien Vignon. The result is 'Here With You', a collection of eleven upbeat songs that unfold like a prescription for a post-pandemic panacea. What's remarkable is that though the band displays a clear affection for sounds of the past, from bubble gum to '70s soul, they never trade in mere pastiche. Their take is more a slightly warped and playful carnival mirror mash-up of classic pop styles, given depth through hang-gliding, emotive vocals and lyrics that often rub against the euphoric grain of the music.