The Popguns - Still Waiting For The Winter EP - CD (2015)

Labels: Matinee Recordings
Review by: MH

A vaguely apt EP title here as it’s currently winter here in Brisbane which means it’s cold for about 5 minutes in the morning and 5 minutes at night before you go to bed and everyone is complaining of winter flu while it’s about 25 degrees all day.

I’ve waffled on a fair bit about The Popguns on previous reviews as I saw them for the first time at one of the very first handful of gigs I ever went to back in the early 90s supporting the Cardiacs. I also mentioned how I first heard them, where I first saw them and all that good stuff. The lead track here is one of the strongest songs on their “Pop Fiction” album – it’s a clean and jangly indie pop tune full of their trademark nostalgic imagery. There are then three lighter, near enough acoustic songs which have a pretty clean sound and nicely nostalgic lyrics again. Brighton and Hove are the settings in the main for the lyrics on these tracks. One of the changes since the band’s early days is the addition of Kate Mander whose vocals add harmonies to Wendy’s lead vocals. Kate also takes the lead on “Why You Fell In Love With Me”. If you’re a fan of their lighter, melancholy side you won’t be disappointed here. I hear there will be more of their power poppy stuff to come soon enough too so keep an eye out for that.