Cologne’s Xul Zolar have always been somewhat of a shadow figure. The few songs they released during the past five years alternated between sinister grooves, urgent crescendos and gloomy textures. To anyone familiar with Xul Zolar‘s math pop beginnings, however, NYE will be a surprise. Retaining a mysterious vibe with calculated sprinkles of steel drum and Ronald Röttel’s lovelorn vocals, the laid-back rhythms show an unusually withdram side to a band that has never sounded more pristine. Their debut album Fear Talk is out on January 19, 2018.