Wishy - Paradise EP (2023) Hi-Res

The Indiana band supplies a sunny Midwestern take on nostalgic, shoegazey dream-pop. Wishy’s proper debut EP, Paradise, is ephemeral euphoria. The songwriting duo of Kevin Krauter (known for Hoops and his self-titled project) and Nina Pitchkites (push pop) keep it short and sweet with a five-track collection that feels like auditory ecstasy. The two initially bonded over bands like My Bloody Valentine, Drop Nineteens, and The Sundays, so it makes sense that the wispy vocals and careening guitars that adorn their music nod to their ’90s influences. It’s their lyrical complexity, then, that breaks new ground—it’s only once you strip back some of the blissed-out dream-pop that their commentary on the loneliness of everyday life and cynicism toward capitalism truly comes to light.

In many ways, Paradise is just like every great discussion of the elusive American dream: It shines with promise and glimmers with hope while being fully aware of the hardships one has to endure to get there. The fuzzy final track, “Too True,” is shrouded in dazzling riffs as its Gatsby-esque lyrics address the fact that underneath all the ornamentation there’s no pain like knowing you can’t repeat the past. Even early single “Donut” distills the uniquely American double bind of an open road full of possibilities stretching out before you as you’re stuck in the same place due to the limitations of your shitty car. It’s a rough ride full of obstacles, but Wishy’s clear-eyed shoegaze is enough to make you want to pull out the spare tire and keep driving.