Extra Life are nothing if not prolific. Since their inception in 2007, they've notched up three albums and a slew of EPs. On each occasion I've been presented with one of their releases, I've found myself struggling to make up my mind about them. With their latest effort, the 'Ripped Heart' EP, I find myself back on the fence once again.
'Strong Brother, Weak Brother' manages to combine brooding moodiness with jangling folk, while 'Run Cold' adds additional drama to the template. It's nothing compared to the title track, though, which takes gently plucked folk and hurls it against the rocks on a tide of crashing cymbals and tempestuous incidentals.
It would be utterly breathtaking were it not for the vocals. Naturally, these things are a matter of taste, and I'm certainly not a stickler for perfect pitch, but they're just ungainly-sounding and sit awkwardly. It's even more of a problem on the sparse, experimental 'Elegy (Cartoon Piano)'. If there's anything cartoon about it, it's the Kermit the Frog singing, and it's a shame, because I like the concept, the sounds and the unusual structures of Extra Life's songs . Ultimately, it's just too much of an obstacle to my enjoyment, although I can't deny that Extra Life make interesting and unusual market, and for that, respect is due.
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Extra Life Online
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