Proper EPs are brilliant. Not these cobbled together ones of a few old album tracks and some new songs like The Saturdays (which actually could have been a not too bad 5 track EP itself, rather than a mini rehash album). No, I'm talking about proper 4-5 track EPs like in days of yore - remember Abba-esque by Erasure? Something magnifico like that. Then like buses, or a really decent cupcake topping at starbucks, you wait ages for one then two brilliant ones turn up at once! And here, although both brilliant in different ways, they are...
Gravitonas established themselves firmly in the consciousness of discerning pop pickers everywhere with their glorious single Kites. It was an instantly soaring single that grew to epic proportions with each carefully constructed note progression. Good news: lead off single from the EP, Religious, is even better. It starts it's life as a celestial piece of piano/vocal that then resurrects the percolating beat and effusive choir of Kites. It's pop majesty on the same heavenly plane of existence as Madonna's Like A Prayer or Simon Curtis' Pop Messiah. The lyrics cleverly work in references to worship and belief, and the hook of "when i'm back on the dancefloor, I'm religious" is a work of genius. The song grows, breathes and evolves into such a frenzy of ecstasy that it is very hard not to drop to your knees and pray. Definitely a contender for single of the year. That on it's own would be more than enough to convert the most heathen of pop disciples, but there's more! Amazing! Realm of the Senses puts them firmly into a slightly harder edged BWO dance territory - it's vaguely reminiscent of Right Here Right Now with a gloriously whispered middle 8 that is all sorts of seductive. It's a wonderfully affirmative feel good tune that balances the history of Alexander Bard alongside his new musical vision. Aces. Shameless is the song that the duo have performed a few times this summer and is a rollicking slice of music that emerges from it's pop chrysallis verses into a slamming rocking chorus that is as massive as say, Alice Cooper's Poison. Guitars work incredibly well in the Gravitonas universe and the fuzziness works well against the beautifully sweet delivery of the middle 8. And there is a key change so it's win win all the way through. The EP closes with Live Wire, a darkly entertaining look at the loose morals of the clubbing circuit delivered over a thrusting beat and relentless guitar. It's possibly what McFly would have done had they not gone the other direction with Party Girl and is a wonderfully off kilter way to finish the EP. A sterling piece of work that really deserves a wide audience to fully appreciate it's genius. Bring on the video already :) (Check out Scandipop's guide here)...
I adore Scott and Glock. They are very lovely pop people indeed who drape the sunniest of sunshine melodies with melancholy, real life lyrics and still manage to make you feel like you are having a great time. Which I do, everytime I listen to their fine debut album - Sunshine and other Misfortunes. The EP is bolstered by their new single from this album The Sunshine Song (above), which I have previously described as "Pushing Daisies the pop song ~ a cheerful bright song on the surface with a peppy melody yet laced with undertones of sadness at the downside of love." The hook practically screams ice creams and lolly pops, so summery is it in it's execution and demands to be sung in shorts and flip flops - "We can't stay young forever/but we can stay young for the rest of our days". It's a musical delight. Following on from this are some new tracks - Annabelle's Song begins with the most elegant of piano refrains that practically floats with it's prettiness. A plainative vocal performance compliments this ethereal melodic kiss. It is of course tinged with sadness, not just in the lyrics but in the music too and it's so beautifully delivered that you are drawn into the world created and sway along with the unfolding story. Paper Aeroplanes begins with a hand clap beat and frankly you can't go far wrong once you've started that way. It's a fragile build up that mirrors the fragility of the song title before a more assertive beat kicks in and the song takes on an engaging, persistant tempo matched with breathy vocals. There's a simplicity about the song but you also get the impression that every single note, every single hand clap and each doo-da-doo vocal inflection has been carefully placed into the mix for maximum effect. Finally, there is Balloon #2 ~a tale of wishful longing that everyone can relate to. Who hasn't wished to be invisible or be able to fly to find out more, to see the world through different eyes? That's the concept of Balloon #2 and like the fragility of the previous tune and the elegance of Annabelle's Song, there is a delicacy here that is both heartbreaking and awe-inspiring. Scott and Glock know just how much to pour into each song without breaking the hold they have over the listener. A genuinely delightful piece of work that makes a fine addition to their album :) You can buy the EP from Peterborough's finest export since 1/5th of JLS on Sept 13th 2010 :)
Gravitonas established themselves firmly in the consciousness of discerning pop pickers everywhere with their glorious single Kites. It was an instantly soaring single that grew to epic proportions with each carefully constructed note progression. Good news: lead off single from the EP, Religious, is even better. It starts it's life as a celestial piece of piano/vocal that then resurrects the percolating beat and effusive choir of Kites. It's pop majesty on the same heavenly plane of existence as Madonna's Like A Prayer or Simon Curtis' Pop Messiah. The lyrics cleverly work in references to worship and belief, and the hook of "when i'm back on the dancefloor, I'm religious" is a work of genius. The song grows, breathes and evolves into such a frenzy of ecstasy that it is very hard not to drop to your knees and pray. Definitely a contender for single of the year. That on it's own would be more than enough to convert the most heathen of pop disciples, but there's more! Amazing! Realm of the Senses puts them firmly into a slightly harder edged BWO dance territory - it's vaguely reminiscent of Right Here Right Now with a gloriously whispered middle 8 that is all sorts of seductive. It's a wonderfully affirmative feel good tune that balances the history of Alexander Bard alongside his new musical vision. Aces. Shameless is the song that the duo have performed a few times this summer and is a rollicking slice of music that emerges from it's pop chrysallis verses into a slamming rocking chorus that is as massive as say, Alice Cooper's Poison. Guitars work incredibly well in the Gravitonas universe and the fuzziness works well against the beautifully sweet delivery of the middle 8. And there is a key change so it's win win all the way through. The EP closes with Live Wire, a darkly entertaining look at the loose morals of the clubbing circuit delivered over a thrusting beat and relentless guitar. It's possibly what McFly would have done had they not gone the other direction with Party Girl and is a wonderfully off kilter way to finish the EP. A sterling piece of work that really deserves a wide audience to fully appreciate it's genius. Bring on the video already :) (Check out Scandipop's guide here)...
