There’s absolutely no way I could pass up not at least checking out a band calling it self “Craft Spells”… such a great name! I have to be honest though, I was expecting a gothier band from the name, but what I got was more than alright with me. I don’t really know too much about the band besides that they hail from Stockton, California and are seemingly a one-man project from Justin Vallesteros. They have a handful of songs up on their Soundcloud along with a downloadable single for “The Fog Rose High.”

Craft Spells make ifantastic bedroom pop that is one part 80′s New Romantic and another part Dream Pop. People enamored with Glo-Fi/Chillwave should also take not because their production and use of synths will be right up your alley if not entirely hanging ten on top of the Chillwave. “The Fog Rose High” wouldn’t be out of place in an 80′s John Cusack movie, you know in that scene where he and the girl finally “fall in love.” Or “Azalea” which channels a fantastic Stephin Merritt (sans the baritone) at the beach in a most pleasant way. Really, really great stuff.

Craft Spells seems to be working towards their debut album, Idle Labor who release for late June has come and passed. After sitting with these songs for a bit now, I’m excited to hear what Justin Vallesteros has up his sleeves for a longplayer. Hopefully we won’t have to wait too much longer for it since these songs make a perfect soundtrack to the last throws of Summer.

Azalea by Craft Spells

- My Pal the Crook