Album Review

The 1975 – Sex EP

• 19th Nov 2012

There’s a lot of hype around Manchester band The 1975. Their debut EP Facedown was generally well received, its ambient sounds and atmospheric harmonies offering something different. The second EP, Sex, starts off as if from a similar place, although it turns out that there are two very different sides to its music.

The opening Intro/ Set 3 is full of samples and layered vocals. It’s slow and atmospheric, but does sound very much like a three minute long introduction. It feels as though something is always about to happen, the song proper is about to kick in, but it never quite gets there leaving a rather unsatisfied feeling. The drum machine gives an interesting effect and the vocal effects are at times unusual, but overall it’s not quite there.

Undo follows in a similar vein. It’s pleasant enough if a little underwhelming. There are synths aplenty along with poppy vocals and a guitar melody that adds a lot, but again it never quite goes anywhere.

Title track Sex is very different. It’s really an electronic rock track with heavy guitar and drums that wouldn’t be out of place on a grunge or garage album along with faster vocals that tend to the high pitched. But there is an energy to the track that was lacking in the opening part of the EP and the contrast couldn’t be any clearer. This is the standout track of the collection without any doubt.

You opens with a big guitar riff and has a similar driving drum beat, although the pace is slower initially. There’s a darkness to the track and the vocals are sung with real feeling. The most melodic track on the EP, You is a decent song and plays its part in making make the second half of the EP much stronger than the first.

And if you wait through 20 minutes or so of silence there is a bonus: a hidden fifth track. Milk features a heavy bass line and vocals dripping with reverb. It’s worth waiting for the two minute song, which has a fast pace and solid feel to it. More guitar based than snyth, I rather like it.

This is really the ultimate EP of two halves. And I suppose a weak start and a strong finish is the better way around. But this one ends up feeling like three really good tracks with a very long and rather dull introduction. I’ll be skipping the first two songs from now on.

The 1975’s debut album will be co-produced by the band and award-winning Mike Crossey (Arctic Monkeys, Foals), and will come out next year. It will be really intriguing to see what direction that one takes.

Venue: Sex EP
Support Band: Dirty Hit