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Mon Frere Real Vampires [EP] Release Date: 12/03/2004 Score: 8.0 out of 10.0 |
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What a way to start off a music career. Last Spring, these three teenages from Mountlake Terrace, a small suburb outside of Seattle, WA took the stage at EMP's Sound Off! band talent show and stole the crowd away, coming out with a first place trophy, and wonderful music spots on a couple of the city's most popular radio stations, including the internet's best online radio station, KEXP, and a nice spot on the Bumbershoot Festival in Seattle. Now, Nouela Johnston (vocals/keyboards), Kyle Swisher (guitar), and David Haasl (drums) have set forth a very interesting EP called Real Vampires.
The band is much like a very electro/synth heavy version of Pretty Girls Make Graves or even Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Johnstons' keyboard selection is very catchy, and Swisher's guitars are fierce at times and edgy and jagged. He creates alot of noise, though not quite on the same level as Nick Zinner of the Yeahs. And while you may not notice it immediately, Haasl is a young and talented drummer that may not be apparent until you see it at a live show.
The 5 track EP is loaded with catchy keyboard riffs, and the jazz-trained and rising vocals of Johnston with the guitar and drums as standard backup noise. They use quirky titles much like another Seattle band, Minus the Bear, with names such as "Orcs Don't Know It", "Bunch of Broccoli" and fan favorite "Real Ultimate Power." Each pack alot of power pop with massively catchy melodies and a sound that combines the worlds of teenage punk rock with electropop.
"Up Circle" starts out with a jazz/industrial feel to it and then explodes into a cymbal heavy, grungy guitar climber. "Orcs Don't Know It" is a slower paced song that allows Johnston to make full use of her voice to take control of the tune. Much of the instrumental parts have very strong indicators of the Yeahs and their odd obscure style of NYC experimental rock. "Real Ultimate Power" still stands out as one of the best tracks on the EP and their collection of power pop tunes.
Mon Frere really does seem like they have a chance to break it in the heavily solicited Seattle rock scene. There's alot of quality already in this town, but plenty of space for more kick start bands that rock. Mon Frere is definitely one to look forward to.
-Anthony Nguyen
March 28, 2005
