Clay Goodman – Such Fun (Go Let It Out)

Clay Goodman – Such Fun (Go Let It Out)

4 August 2025

Whether by design or merely completely happy accident, there’s one thing in Clay Goodman’s newest providing that faucets into the extra rewarding, extra refined corners of ’80s various pop—though a world far faraway from the neon-drenched, chart-chasing clichés that retro revisionists would have you ever consider outlined the last decade. No, this lands nearer to that sensible, shimmering pop-rock territory that existed someplace between the cult cool of Cocteau Twins or House of Love and one thing heading in the direction of extra commercially accessible realms. At least the type of commercially accessible realms that the extra discerning pop-picker would have been present in.

If it’s unintentional, he’s stumbled upon the identical golden formulation that made that left-field indie-pop scene so particular. If it’s intentional, then clearly we share an identical vinyl assortment—to not point out an understanding that fashion doesn’t have to come back at the price of substance.

“Such Fun” is a fragile balancing act—dream-pop delicacy harnessed to a extra pressing indie momentum, all whereas delivering the form of accessible hooks that remind us pop music as soon as knew easy methods to stroll the road between artwork and attraction. Guitars shimmer and spiral, generally tightly wound, generally lazily lolling alongside. The rhythm part retains issues lean and propulsive, whereas the vocals drift in a haze, at risk of being out of attain however precisely the place they must be.

And sure, whereas I’ve nodded to the previous in tracing its sonic lineage—and people references will sing loudest to those that lived it—it’s not a retro train, however “Such Fun” may be very a lot a product of the now, and even perhaps a blueprint for the longer term. It’s a musical marker, a flag within the floor for anybody nonetheless holding out hope that pop…power-pop, indie-pop, dream-pop, pop-rock, name it what you’ll… might be intelligent, trendy, and heartfelt suddenly. A sonic normal raised, urging others to comply with go well with.

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