Yama Uba - Silhouettes

Oakland post-punk duo Yama Uba emerged after a five‑year writing process with Silhouettes, an album shaped by emotional upheaval, personal growth, and artistic perseverance. The record merges rumbling bass and charismatic vocals from Akiko Sampson with sweeping Cure-like guitar lines and evocative saxophone from Winter Zora, all layered over velvet synths and synthpop-inspired drum programming. Drawing on influences from darkwave and post‑punk pioneers, the album casts its own shadow—texturally rich, emotionally complex, and subtly defiant—balancing moody atmosphere with moments of visceral pop drive. Tracks like “Disappear,” “Shapes,” and “Facade” showcase this dynamic: moody synth introductions giving way to incisive guitar, pulsating rhythms, and piercing lyrics like “Just a kiss from a narcissist” that cut deep. The cover of The Passions’ “I’m in Love With a German Film Star” feels at once faithful and bejeweled, fitting comfortably into the album’s brooding yet shimmering aesthetic. Overall, Silhouettes is a bold statement of self‑discovery and transformation, where Yama Uba trully defines their sound—and themselves—through time and turmoil.