Pacific Ocean Fire & Don’s Mobile Barbers “10” Spilt EP” (Sorted Records 2006)

A joint effort – both successful?

Americana UK darlings, Pacific Ocean Fire have joined forces with Don’s Mobile Barbers and released a joint EP which displays seven tracks that outlines what they’re about and what’s coming next.

Pacific Ocean Fire are from Leicester and have struck a chord with this sites very own Jeremy Searle, who was enamoured about their previous releases, particularly ‘Roadsigns‘ as “music to clutch yourself to, music to ache to, music to sing along with, this is simply glorious."

I don’t think there’s much I can add really, aside from the fact that not all the writers for this site feel the same as Jeremy – which reinforces that we don’t all drink from the same Americana cup. Even though it's usually filled with the same spirit.

The first track ‘Never Gonna Make Old Bones’ is a vibey up-tempo number that eschews fuzzily emotional pop that’s already been compared to Grandaddy, Flaming Lips and Mercury Rev. I suppose its catchy and lively, but not particularly memorable to my ears. But ‘Lost Chapters’ and ‘I’m a Stranger Here’ simply slip by in a haze of sameiness, but then again I’ve not necessarily always got it. To wit - ‘The Havenots’ so don’t necessarily take my opinion as read.

This EP preludes their forthcoming album ‘From the Station to the Church We Are Under the Same Stars' out in September.

Fellow Leicester band, Don’s Mobile Barbers are another band that have received recognition from publications such as 'The Sun', 'The Independent' and 'Unpeeled'. In preparation for their fourth album this EP provides access to four tracks that outline what they’re about. Moody emotional pop that has also been compared to Grandaddy, Flaming Lips and Mercury Rev, so are these bands actually one and the same? Methinks they might be but then I’m always full of conspiracy theories.

But do we care enough to find out? I’ll let you decide.

Date review added:  Saturday, July 08, 2006
Reviewer:  Phil Edwards
Reviewers Rating:
Related web link:  Sorted Records website