“Wild Fillies/Cardinal” by Pure Bathing Culture

By now, you should know that when Sarah Versprille and Daniel Hindman — aka, the dream pop duo of Pure Bathing Culture — release new music, I’m contractually obligated to write something about it.

“Wild Fillies/Cardinal” is the band’s first release since 2023’s Chalice, and it’s another showcase for the perfect blend that is Versprille’s emotional voice, Hindman’s dextrous guitar, and Trevor Spencer’s lush production. I’m particularly prone to “Cardinal”’s laid-back vibe, which the duo describe as a “day song” that’s “about the quiet magic of knowing when to move, listening to the signs around you, and waiting for the right moment.”

Versprille and Hindman describe both songs as “mystic ballads for shadowy times” that tell of “love and fate in those moments where everything feels fragile and tender.” These are shadowy times, indeed, and I’m glad we have lush, comforting music like Pure Bathing Culture’s to help see us through them.