Hari and Aino - A considerate kind of home b/w Maple 7"
(Cloudberry Records)

The band's self-titled full-length was just okay, but give me two all-star tracks with zero filler and you'll hear no complaints whatsoever. Once again, Hari and Aino play the kind of professional upbeat indiepop you should be familiar with from The Cardigans' early records, but never too sweet or cloying, nor too cute for its own good. What's left is what's most important; the strong, yet understated female vocals, the super-crisp rhythm section and the kind of guitar playing that perfectly suits each part, always with just the right amount of notes and not one iota more. The band's sole misstep is the keyboards on the flip, my pick for the single's best track and a totally unnecessary addition for an already effective arrangement. Beyond that, this is exactly the kind of pop I like to hear from a label like Cloudberry.
- Avi Roig