Sometimes, anticipation can truly set you up for a fall. After all, I’d spent a while digesting all the information about YOUNG PEOPLE – three (now two) enigmatic characters from San Fran/ L.A respectively – and it was all good, with references to glowing reviews and two previous LPS which were already gaining ground as shit hot cult items. Additionally, I’d been bearing in mind the fact YP were signed to Too Pure: which effectively means they’re label mates with a slew of other kookily intriguing acts such as Stereolab, Electrelane and Shooting At Unarmed Men.
So, with appetite suitably whetted, I immersed myself and…numerous plays later, I still don’t see – or, more importantly, hear – what the fuss is all about. “Five Sunsets In Four Days”s material is every bit as much at sea as its’ natural body clock.
Things get off to a shaky start with “Hot Horse”. It’s dense, noisy and amateurish with a distinct nod to labelmate Scout Niblett, but without the delicious naivete. It’s better than the ensuing “The Mountain”, though, which is skittery and amorphous and borderline unlistenable lo-fi. Track 3, “Stay Awake”, is the first track to feature bass rather than simply skeletal guitar and drums, but it’s still dark and unappetising, with the only remotely seductive element being supplied by Katie Eastburn’s admittedly enticing voice.
Fortunately, the second half of the EP rallies to a degree, mostly due to “Night Nurse” and the closing “Sudden Fear.” “Night Nurse” benefits from the lack of drums, but still sounds percussive in a minimal Kills/ Young Marble Giants kinda way and gives Katie’s deranged, school-of-Kristin-Hersh vocals some space to wander. “Sudden Fear”, meanwhile, is typically spiky Too Pure fare, but like “Night Nurse” its’ plot line has been followed to a conclusion and it remembers not to outstay its’ welcome, which is a good rule of thumb in general and certainly is here. Indeed, it’s only a shame these two are sandwiched by “Wild Boys Of The Road” which is all build up and no climax and finds Katie’s drumming making Mo Tucker sound like Neil Peart. Oh dear.
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Apparently, this EP is the band’s final recording with founding member Jeff Rosenberg on board, as he has since resigned to go back to college. If it was my decision, I’d get a real drummer in to replace him and build on the rest, because there IS something lurking here. To bring it out, though, they need real discipline and more fully-finished songs because these “Five Sunsets In Four Days” dim and fade all too quickly without leaving the impression I’d fervently hoped for.
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