POKAL is the DIY-project of Sweden-based Norwegian Arne Barlindhaug Ellingsen, who shows off hook-y melodic pulsations and soundscape that merges past/future on new track “Great Expectations”. There’s an ’80s vibe, especially reminiscent of Yellow Magic Orchestra, in how the guitars and keys seem to practically quiver with excitement, as nonchalant vocals add an exotic and mystifying vibe. There’s also a forward-thinking approach here, one that recalls recent psych-rock acts like Tame Impala with the galloping bass and spacey polish. POKAL seems to have found a beautiful middle ground between these comparisons, finding a sound that’s distinctively his own on the stellar “Great Expectations”.
