Photo by T

Welcome Strawberry gave to our physical world one of the most florid and purest shoegaze albums of the year with their sophomore standout, desperate flower. Unlike the lifespan of a plant, the sound which permeates through the senses from the Oakland-based band led by Cyrus Vandenberghe has a timelessness to it. That endures throughout their newly-released surprise EP, floral arrangements.

We’re hearing Welcome Strawberry in a different season here, however. The listen washes back feedback in favor of dreamy acoustic pop with the new song “each day i adore you”, a rendering of their most recent album’s title track, and a cover of “As Big As You Are” by fellow buzzworthy Bay Area dream-pop rockers Aluminum. All this before inverting itself into sunbeaming static from the stems up on a demo of “lilac lie down”.

It should also be boosted that all proceeds from digital sales as well as cassettes sold on the band’s Bandcamp page will be donated to the community safety and arts orgs, Punks with Lunch West Oakland and Elevate Oakland. With that, their growing season is planting the seeds in more than just one way…

Welcome Strawberry’s floral arrangements is available now Cherub Dream Records.