Dreamy synth pop quartet Yumi Zouma were scattered across Auckland, Paris, and New York for the couple of years leading up to their upcoming album, Yoncalla. Despite that physical disconnect, their music has melded together seamlessly with a gauzy beauty. But the band had the benefit of being in the same space to record the collection of songs on Yoncalla. The lead single, “Keep It Close To Me” exhibited a coherence and sharpness that was bubbling under the surface of their previous offerings.

“Barricade (Matter Of Fact)” continues their evolution. The shimmering synth layers, ethereal atmospheric sweeps, and muted melodic piano are like a lightly rippling body of water with Christie Simpson’s wispy vocals as buoy. Simpson almost whispers the hook, “It’s not a matter of fact/ Things are said to your back/ It’s just a figure of speech/ Seen through your eyes.” It’s insanely catchy, delicately falling upon you yet somehow landing with the penetrating force of a swift sword. Listen.

Yoncalla is out 5/27 on Cascine. Pre-order is available in physical and digital formats.