Dan Mangan "Roboteering EP" (FU:M, 2009)

Canadian singer songwriter – taster for forthcoming album ‘Nice,Nice,Very Nice’

The first track on this EP ‘Robots’ is a glorious singalong with everything including the kitchen sink thrown in. There are handclaps, horns, rabble-rousing vocals, banjos and at its centre a great beating heart of a song that not only survives the excessive attention of the production but positively thrives.

‘The Indie Queens Are Waiting’ by contrast is a far more managed song. An aching duet with some swooning pauses and mixed way up front vocals on the bed of a strummed acoustic guitar. Wonderful.

If this is the quality of the forthcoming album then it will be immense.
We continue with an almost breathless Bright Eyes gallop of a song ‘Sold’ which demonstrates tremendous energy as its rushes towards the conclusion, all guitar, soft snare, slapped bass and banjo with a coda that’ll have you tapping your toes and thinking of ancient farmsteads and hoedowns.

‘Till I Fall’ has a Sparklehorse fuzzed guitar and a whispered vocal that speaks of plains and ancient places. It is a reworking of an old number that shows its lo-fi roots with its conclusion. The last track features a poem read by Shane Koyczan and is both intriguing and satisfying.

This is an excellent EP that could foreshadow a truly great album, one of variety, taste, invention and creativity. Bring it on.

Date review added:  Sunday, May 03, 2009
Reviewer:  keith lovejoy
Reviewers Rating:
Related web link:  artist's site