EP Review :: Felt Tip - Simple Things

Felt Tip

Simple Things

June 9 2014 (Fierce Panda)

7/10

Words: Dave Beech

As Brits go, angular, somewhat self-deprecating indie has always been a penchant of ours, right from the genre's inception in the '80s. Thirty years later, and it's still as strong as ever, with new bands proving time and time again that one of alternative music's main tributaries isn't likely to run dry soon. At least not if Felt Tip have anything to do with it.

With their debut single only coming out at the end of last year, the first thing that strikes you about Felt Tip (other than the irritatingly sparse introduction to the aforementioned 'Simple Things') is how tight they are as a band. Even through the inherently funk, and as such naturally loose, nature of the track it's obvious that they're a band who immediately gelled - something which becomes ever more apparent as the record progresses.

From the conclusion of 'Simple Things', however, the record is built around more traditional contemporary indie sounds; sharp and staccato guitars bringing to mind Franz Ferdinand; the vocal, The Maccabees. 'No Idea', for instance, sees a synth line throughout the intro that's somewhat reminiscent of The Who's 'Won't Get Fooled Again', while lyrically and vocally singer James Tyler channels his inner Orlando Weeks brilliantly. There's a lot more to Tyler's vocal range, allowing for occasional and intentional vocal quivers to give the track more personality as it rolls towards its conclusion. Final track 'I Don't Ever' is less melodious, with frenetic percussion and yet more angular guitars play out against a subtle, well produced bass.

While the overall sound that Felt Tip are making won't give anyone a “Eureka” moment, the musicianship they have between them should. And when something is as solid as this, it makes it easy to forget that they are a band who have only released two (well-received) singles and been together less than a year. As such, rather than focus on the familiarity of it all, we should focus on the potential instead, and how they're going to sound 12 months down the line. If the energy and the talent at play here, manifests itself as strongly on a full-length, then Felt Tip are a band who could very easily go places.