Menu
· Conor Welsch
At first glance, Dumb Baby sounds like a joke. The title is playful, a little self-deprecating, almost throwaway. But once you sit with the record, it becomes clear that Miki Fiki are doing something smarter than the name suggests. This album is built on humor, yes, but it is humor used as access, not armor. Beneath the lightness is a careful understanding of melody, feeling, and how to make intimacy feel effortless.
Dumb Baby feels like the sound of letting yourself be seen without over explaining why.
The album moves quickly and confidently. Songs are short, melodic, and loosely arranged, but never careless. Jangly guitars, soft brass touches, and relaxed rhythms give the record a breezy, almost sun-washed feel. There is a bedroom pop looseness here, but it is guided by intention rather than accident.
What stands out is how familiar these songs feel without ever sounding borrowed. Miki Fiki lean into emotional shorthand. Crushes, awkwardness, overthinking, the quiet comedy of being human. The arrangements stay light, letting hooks and tone do the work. Tracks end before they overstay their welcome, giving the album a steady forward motion that makes it easy to listen to all the way through.
Rather than chasing a standout moment, Dumb Baby succeeds by staying consistent. Each song adds texture to the same emotional world.
Miki Fiki’s greatest strength is restraint. Vocals are delivered with an easy, conversational tone, often sounding like thoughts said out loud rather than lyrics performed. There is humor in the delivery, but also sincerity. The jokes never feel like deflection. They feel like honesty filtered through charm.
The band’s background in Nashville and early brass-influenced indie pop shows up subtly in the arrangements. Horns and layered instrumentation appear where they add warmth, not spectacle. Everything feels human and close, like it was recorded with the door open and the windows cracked.
This is a record that trusts its listener. It does not push. It invites.
The softer tracks reward full attention. On vinyl, the quiet details come forward naturally.
Short runtimes make side flips feel intentional, keeping the energy light and engaging.
The album works best when played straight through, letting its mood settle rather than chasing individual songs.
Dumb Baby is not trying to impress. That is exactly why it works. Miki Fiki understand that personality can be just as powerful as polish. The album feels small in scale but big in heart, full of songs that linger because they feel real.
This is the kind of record you return to when you want to feel comfortable, not challenged. It makes space instead of noise.
Miki Fiki feel like a project built for longevity. Dumb Baby suggests an artist who knows their voice early and is willing to let it grow naturally. If future releases expand on this balance of humor and sincerity, they could become a quiet favorite for listeners who value personality over perfection.
This album feels like the beginning of something that will age well.
Best Spins: Made a Friend, Look at Me, Brown Bangs, Paint
For Fans Of: Mo Lowda & the Humble, HARBOUR, The Sways
If You’re Into This, Try:
The Sways by The Sways
Thoughts on Letting Go by HARBOUR
French Exit by TV Girl
Mariposa by Felly
Being Funny in a Foreign Language by The 1975