Dave 'Pen' and Mike 'Bird' make up the Southampton band Birdpen. So far they have just the well-received 'Discussing Robots' single to their name and now this EP. The lead-off track 'Fake Kid' starts off with muted electronica before the staccato chorus kicks in; it's a fine track with an unassuming beginning gradually being replaced by a burning tension. 'A Round Of Applause For A Great Disaster' is similarly smart featuring a guitar line reminiscent of Department S' 'Is Vic There?' whereas Pen's vocals have a Beta Band quality to them. Third track 'Huron' reveals a warmer side to Birdpen; there's a world-weariness to this excellent ballad which suggests this is a group with a few albums behind them rather than a mere single. Finally, the CD contains a video track called '10,000 Dead Stars'; though the video itself is understandably lo-fi it's disturbing enough to match the Colder-like sinister minimalism of the song. An excellent performance all round.
Dave 'Pen' and Mike 'Bird' make up the Southampton band Birdpen. So far they have just the well-received 'Discussing Robots' single to their name and now this EP. The lead-off track 'Fake Kid' starts off with muted electronica before the staccato chorus kicks in; it's a fine track with an unassuming beginning gradually being replaced by a burning tension. 'A Round Of Applause For A Great Disaster' is similarly smart featuring a guitar line reminiscent of Department S' 'Is Vic There?' whereas Pen's vocals have a Beta Band quality to them. Third track 'Huron' reveals a warmer side to Birdpen; there's a world-weariness to this excellent ballad which suggests this is a group with a few albums behind them rather than a mere single. Finally, the CD contains a video track called '10,000 Dead Stars'; though the video itself is understandably lo-fi it's disturbing enough to match the Colder-like sinister minimalism of the song. An excellent performance all round.
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