Labels: Odd Box
Review by: Alex Hannan
CITY YELPS’ debut 10 song cassette came out early last year, and presented a deftly shaped set of pop songs, immersive in effect, oblique and slightly ragged. This 7″ presents two songs from the same period – recorded in mid-late 2013 – of which the A-side hews closer to pure pop in hooky songwriting and cleaner playing. Taking the 2013 sessions as a whole, these two seem picked for their concise and polished style. “Saying things for effect” is gauzy but propulsive indie-pop which taps into a hidden intensity, sidestepping cuteness for inscrutablility. Perhaps a little too similar in verse riff to the already released “Awful prizes” to share space on the tape, but great on its own terms. “Cats, mice” is less sunny, sharper guitars and asymmetrical phrasing making the song subtly wayward, rewarding multiple listens. The mix is top-heavy but the sound works for them, everything gently haloed in effects. The only inconvenience is flipping the thing over every minute and a half. Enjoyed it a lot and need to make more of an effort to catch them live.