Release Date: March 5, 2011
Thank God for modern technology. Without it, bedroom recording projects might never have achieved the level of sophistication they have in recent years, and without the corresponding expansion of distribution channels, music like the eponymously titled debut EP from Two Suns would be collecting dust in Jake Davidson’s bedroom closet in Norman, Oklahoma. Instead, via bandcamp, one can discover (and purchase, for the bargain level price of $2.50) these ambitious five songs, recorded entirely using something called Reason/Record.
Despite being a self-described bassist by trade, Davidson’s compositions are surprisingly not at all bass-heavy, instead emphasizing acoustic guitars, electronic synth sounds and drums, along with the bleeps and beeps that make it part of the glitch-pop mis en scene. However, there’s a lot more going on in here than typical eight-bit playfulness; in fact there seems to be a real vein of seriousness that courses through the lyrics here, although admittedly they don’t stand on their own that well.
“Wait The Same” is the should-be single, with its acoustic oompah oompah, industrial clangery and simple toy xylophonic descant in the breakbeat break. Lovely alto vocals glide across the bubbling and blipping electronic rhythm parts and synth parts, punctuated by fingers squealing on acoustic guitar fretboards, and it’s got the most compelling, anthemic hook on the release. Toward the end of the track Richardson stacks on layers of shiny distortion and feedback until it dissolves into a post-Sonic Youth wash and cuts out abruptly.
The other cuts aren’t as immediately engaging, but the musical depth and inventiveness reveals itself throughout the tracks with repeated listens. The kick-off cut, “Chasing Life, Catching Dreams” begins as smooth as placid waters, and the orchestral fluorishes and tenor vocals that glide on top are reminiscent of the male counterpart in Asobi Seksu or Brad Laner’s (Medicine) recent solo release outing. In some ways the composition is two songs in one—there’s not the dichotomy of the Beatles’ “A Day In The Life” (nor is there the grandiosity, for that matter), but at about four and a half minutes in it features a lovely orchestral break and gradually dies down like a sonic sunset.
“Things Left Unsaid” provides the best example of the autobiographical nature of the songs of Two Suns, so named because the EP was recorded while Richardson’s two sons, ages two years and six months, were sleeping. Although it’s unclear exactly what the circumstances were, the lyrics “it almost killed me when I thought you were dead,” are pretty scary regardless, but they take on added resonance when considered from a parent’s perspective. This track provides a good example of lyrics that maybe can’t stand alone as poetry, but when coupled with the depth and intricacy of the music, the composition succeeds overall, as does Saved For My Girl, which sounds like a sedate William Orbit remix.
In terms of sonic antecedents and contemporaries, the first EP from Two Suns should find itself amongst rocktronica acts like School of Seven Bells, Broken Bells (no relation).
Also on that list should be fellow Oklahoman (and Flaming Lip) Steven Drozd’s recent solo work, especially on “Chances (failing charity),” which sounds like a chronicle of Hansel and Gretel’s trip to the witch-house, accompanied by the slow-mo dropped pick-up stick rhythm reminiscent of The Fixx’s “Deeper and Deeper.”
Despite the multiplicity of distribution channels nowadays, it would still be easy for this homemade outing—self-released and only available on their website and via bandcamp—to get lost in the shuffle. And that would be a shame, because this EP could (and should) find itself on many critics’ best short-form recordings of 2011.
Two Suns – Two Suns EP Tracklist:
- “Chasing Life, Catching Dreams”
- “Wait the Same”
- “Saved for My Girl”
- “Things Left Unsaid”
- “Chances (Failing Charity)”
