8/10

Having already established themselves as two of the most forward-thinking and embracing names on the scene for a while now, the coming together of Palehound’s Ellen Kempner and Jay Som’s Melina Duterte was met with enormous excitement. Individually they are placed as the future of soft and breezy pop music, so even the idea of them starting a project together almost feels too good to be true at times. And after a few months of delivering their collaborations, they return with their debut studio album 'Doomin' Sun', a record that sounds exactly like you'd hope.

Originally written and recorded in early 2020, long before the pandemic interrupted us all, 'Doomin' Sun' manages to save itself from the turmoil and despondency that has begun to trickle into new music of late. Conceived during a time in which all they had to ponder and worry about was the quality of their music, it has this incredibly laid-back vibe to it, and almost takes us out of ourselves with its rich and enticing textures. While fans of their formative outfits will no doubt draw comparisons to those, there is plenty of adventurous twists and turns throughout this collection, making for a fine and enjoyable introduction.

Bachelor may have only just begun their journey, but it is clear that they are brimming with fresh and vibrant ideas. Channelling a broad mix of intentions, with nods to Pixies and Sonic Youth thrown in there as well, this already feels like so much more than a flash-in-the-pan side-project.