Pjos - Everything Was Taken Away

Pjos

Everything Was Taken Away
self-released; 2024

By Dan Weston
​

Pjos, an independent dreampop artist rooted in Poland but originally from Brazil, channels a melancholic, cinematic energy that feels both personal and expansive. His formative years, steeped in music through his father’s career as a professional singer, laid the groundwork for his current work, where echoes of live performance and Brazilian musicality subtly inform his aesthetic.

On Everything Was Taken Away, Pjos explores themes of loss and resilience with a sound palette that nods to M83, Mogwai, and Sigur Rós, all while staying tethered to classic shoegaze sensibilities. The opening title track leans into post-rock’s emotive builds and shoegaze’s textured haze, layering chiming bells, understated bass, and a steady drumbeat beneath a wash of static-like noise. While the track doesn’t venture into uncharted territory, its gradual intensification offers a meditative pull, balancing repetition with careful layering.

“But It’s Gonna Be Okay” shifts the tone slightly, opening with lush pads that envelop the listener in a warm, serene atmosphere. As the track unfolds, swelling waves of sound and minimal percussion rise and recede, creating a fleeting moment of calm that dissipates as quickly as it arrives.

​Pjos doesn’t reinvent the wheel here, but he doesn’t need to. Instead, Everything Was Taken Away feels like a well-worn sweater—a familiar and comforting collection of sounds for fans of early ‘90s shoegaze and the cinematic grandeur of his influences. While it might not break new ground, it captures a wistful intimacy that resonates.

Become A Fan

pjos.rocks

Tweet