The four track EP has an overall dreamy quality (their twitter bio labels them as "LA Dreamo, so this is not too surprising), being some fairly mellow and chilled out alternative rock. It kicks off with "Hideaway", which showcases the great blend they achieve of polished recordings with just enough grit to get that really good indie sound. The shift in Ray's vocals between the first 2/3rds of the song being lower and almost of a talking-quality, and the last section, with the octave shift and much greater emotional emphasis, reveals just a taste of their consistent use of contrast to create memorable tunes.
"Gills" really features the guitar throughout, from the opening riff and the muted strums of the pre-chorus to the more distorted riff leading the instrumental through the chorus. This song also showcases the band's ability to bounce between the signature dreamy quality that's quickly established and a more edgy, punk vibe. I especially love the line from the chorus "I talk of timing, but I hardly care at all"; it really caught my attention when I first listened through the EP.
Nikita's vocals at the end of "Gills" hint at the prominent aspect of the next song, "I Don't Belong Here (And Neither Do You)", which is the interplay between the male and female vocals. There is a definite ethereal quality to Nikita's vocals, which also adds to that overarching dreamy feel. The change in tempo a little around 2 minutes into the song is what makes this one in particular stand out to me as the strongest song, as it's able to switch in a way that feels very natural and still retains the essence of the song.
"Flowers (...Isn't Heaven)" finishes out the EP in a slower fashion, the highlight of being Ray's vocals during the chorus that feature a really surreal-sounding effect that focuses the spotlight on them. Besides the chorus, the emphasis is really placed on the instrumental, which takes over the song after the second chorus and feels like a jam session as the drums, bass, and guitars all play off each other as they build back into the last verse and chorus.
Overall, it's a really great start. They have a quality sound that's backed by some subtle unique factors, their vocals are a fantastic balance of edgy and polished, harmonies are solid, and the instrumentals switch flawlessly between leading and supporting throughout the record. A job well done.
Rating: 4.5/5
Recommended: "I Don't Belong Here (And Neither Do You)"
Related: Lydia, A Will Away, From Indian Lakes
"Gills" really features the guitar throughout, from the opening riff and the muted strums of the pre-chorus to the more distorted riff leading the instrumental through the chorus. This song also showcases the band's ability to bounce between the signature dreamy quality that's quickly established and a more edgy, punk vibe. I especially love the line from the chorus "I talk of timing, but I hardly care at all"; it really caught my attention when I first listened through the EP.
Nikita's vocals at the end of "Gills" hint at the prominent aspect of the next song, "I Don't Belong Here (And Neither Do You)", which is the interplay between the male and female vocals. There is a definite ethereal quality to Nikita's vocals, which also adds to that overarching dreamy feel. The change in tempo a little around 2 minutes into the song is what makes this one in particular stand out to me as the strongest song, as it's able to switch in a way that feels very natural and still retains the essence of the song.
"Flowers (...Isn't Heaven)" finishes out the EP in a slower fashion, the highlight of being Ray's vocals during the chorus that feature a really surreal-sounding effect that focuses the spotlight on them. Besides the chorus, the emphasis is really placed on the instrumental, which takes over the song after the second chorus and feels like a jam session as the drums, bass, and guitars all play off each other as they build back into the last verse and chorus.
Overall, it's a really great start. They have a quality sound that's backed by some subtle unique factors, their vocals are a fantastic balance of edgy and polished, harmonies are solid, and the instrumentals switch flawlessly between leading and supporting throughout the record. A job well done.
Rating: 4.5/5
Recommended: "I Don't Belong Here (And Neither Do You)"
Related: Lydia, A Will Away, From Indian Lakes
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