The story of Poolblood seems to be one of trial and error. Under the alias, Maryam Said crafts lush, deeply textured soundscapes that immediately lodge in the brain. Their debut album also takes big compositional swings. On “wfy,” a straightforward, strummed melody breaks way into a lurching parade of wheezing horns and a chorus of voices. Upon reveal, it feels like a great step forward for the bedroom pop sound.
Featuring Cindy Lee, Nemahsis, Wyatt C. Louis, and more — These Canadian artists all commandeered our headphones this year in a compelling way.