#epreview

Norwich four-piece The Islas bring their own twang to the indie rock genre, piecing together releases from youth and the experience of British adolescence as they transition into adulthood. Exploring every emotion from the highs to the lows, we see an unfiltered picture exploring each reality in depth.

Forming their staple sound, the group relied upon their mutual desire to put on high energy shows with tight 2 minute tracks. Short but sweet, each new release they share brilliantly showcases their musical talents and captivating storytelling. Proving to be worth their hard work, The Islas have a stage-presence that's seen them support acts like Fickle Friends, Louis Berry and The Amazons.

Reminiscent of artists like The Smiths, Paul Weller and Sam Fender, The Islas feel familiar yet original and their talent is only further highlighted through their plentiful headlining shows and Spotify editorial support.

Commencing the EP with 'Don't Wait For Me', we're fed the narrative of a young adult finding their place in the world through heartfelt lines like 'this one's for all the lost souls, who never felt like they could, never thought that they should' that not only relate to their young audience but make them feel heard. This poignant message of hope is expressed with such elegance, having vocalist Nathan's powerful vocals leading with a radiating echo as perhaps a way to signify the loneliness of growing older. Stripped to the basics, the haunting guitar strums are the only other sound we hear for the majority of the track, before climaxing into an atmospheric instrumental explosion as a finale.

Once you recover from 'Don't Wait For Me', we're thrown straight into 'Rock City' with a straight-up hook of a guitar riff and pounding drums to lead us along quickly. In just under two minutes, this track is jam-packed with addictively euphoric beats, feel-good lyricism detailing drunk nights out and lifting spirits with the youthfully careless energy. Our favourite lyrical line from this tune was the pre-choruses: 'my latest Cinderella passes me a Stella, and I'll be home by five' absolutely radiating British banter and humorous mentions of a fairytale princess.

First single to drop from the EP and third on the bill is 'The Absence Of You', written throughout the confines of lockdown it explores all the intimate post-breakup emotions after the downfall of a long-term relationship. Whilst not yearning for this lost lover, the track explores the hole left in your heart where you're so used to falling back on another's presence within your life. However you wouldn't quite know the lyricism was this profound if you purely listened to the punchiness of the instrumentals in this one; engaging the listener with thundering drums and evolving riffs, The Islas keep their energy high regardless of if their heart is aching. Moments of melancholia are littered into the sounds, mostly within warm and raw vocals and dulled down moments that allow Nathan's words to shine.

Baverstock shares more on 'The Absence Of You' expressing that, “The single is not really a love-sick song about wanting someone back, just the sensation of feeling empty and realising that that chapter of your life has gone.”

'Still Coming On' pertains upbeat rhythms and sharp melodies alongside the most confident vocals we've heard from Nathan yet. With a chorus that expresses the yearning for a past lover or even lost relative in the most instrumentally joyful way possible, The Islas make it digestible to reminisce without your heart breaking all over again. Chorus lines 'I always thought that you'd be there, I thought I didn't need anyone, I'll always miss that good feeling' show a side to loss that isn't as frequently shown. Moving on is natural, but we don't often consider that once we lose someone we also lose a significant part of our lives that we can rarely reconnect with.

Touching and delicately slow, 'All The Same' features Emily Parish in quite a nostalgic vibe. The haunting vocals of Emily harmonise effortlessly with Nathan, displaying unmatched intimacy for the listener to peer into each word they sing. The immaculate storytelling of 'All The Same' will have you picturing movie-esque scenes of a protagonist walking the streets alone in the pouring rain. This damp sadness is matched in the elongated and hearty moving pacing, alongside Nathan's words of such tender depth: 'I'm so jealous of all my brothers, who felt the loving arms of their mothers, I suppose my young life got away.' The lack of overwhelming instrumentals keep the narrative front and centre as you play through this almost 4-minute bittersweet reflection on ageing.

Title track 'Oblivion' is the most cinematic of the lot, with a chorus that feels like the calm before the storm. Their usual quick pacing speeds through the verses that reflect on some social and political commentary like the pandemic and social media movements that do little for their cause. Memorable hooks are littered throughout this stunning final song, setting the group up for what are going to be their most exciting live shows yet.

Check out the full EP yourself here, as it's without a doubt nailed to perfection. Every single track on 'Oblivion' is worth spinning on repeat, and when The Islas start touring again you won't want to miss it.

Written by: Tatiana Whybrow

Photo Credits: James Hubbard

Producer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist EIGHTHRS (8 hours) has been diving headfirst into mastering their sound and music as a one-man band. Although taking on this solo-project, this artist is also part of Philadelphia based indie-pop group Besphrenz, who have built a dedicated fanbase of 95,000+ monthly Spotify listeners since releasing their first single in 2016.

'Vol.4' marks the final increment in this 16 song project for EIGHTHRS, who challenged themselves to not only release solo work but do so within only a few months. With EPs 'Vol.1', 'Vol.2' and 'Vol.3' preceding this release, this hefty body of work shows great dedication from an individual clearing looking to hone their talents to perfection. With their mini EP serving as a learning process, it truly charts the growth and hard-work poured in to make this a reality.

We're introduced to Vol.4 with track one 'Melting', that's immediately smooth just like the narrative fed in this release, telling the story of a lover who they're utterly falling for. The softened instrumentals embody an electronic turned indie feel, taking things slow despite the lyrical urge to jump into things head-first with their newest romance. Lines like 'I've been melting in your hands' emphasise the romantic form and love-struck nature of the track.

Followed by 'How We Talk', we hear an abstract use of vocal effects that bring a wackiness and retro disco styled atmosphere in a modern setting. Quickly spoken and paired with a fast paced beat, this catchy gem is easy to get looped in your mind. This funky style and amalgamation of different elements keeps the tone upbeat and engaging even when the lyricism doesn't have the same sunny tone. With lines like 'Every time I'm alone I call you on the phone, but you're not saying a lot' leaving you feeling that this upbeat release is not all sweet below the surface.

'FREAKED OUT!' is more stripped and laid-back from the get-go, while continuing the prominent vocal effects perfect for this easy-listening session. Lyrically, we begin to fall into the deeper story of the EP through this addition as the reluctancy of this romance and the loss of the initial magic starts to show itself. The upbeat sound continues to truly juxtaposes the content, thus making this little EP infectiously fun while still perfect for those listening deeper.

Closing not only this EP, but this lengthy project, is 'Hang On.' Blissful piano sets up the tender atmosphere, before throwing us back into the heavily edited vocals. Starting off strong, the effects fade out and back in multiple times perhaps representing lowering your walls and showing more intimacy before closing back up all over again. This rawness amongst a more processed feel is incredibly unique and originally implemented, making this closure of the project an interesting track to conclude with.

'Vol.4' truly showcases the work of an artist who's given their all to this project, and with the multifaceted lyricism and sound it's perfect for anyone wanting to relax or listen deeper. It ultimately challenges listeners to dig further into what they're listening along to, with a sunny tone misleading for the lyricism that tells another story. Give the whole EP a spin here, to enjoy plentiful chilled tracks among poignant storytelling for all your listening needs.

Written by: Tatiana Whybrow

Photo Credits: Emily Paige Townsend