
Great news for Epic45 fans: later on in the spring should see the arrival of their second "proper" album but first up is a limited edition CD-R produced by core members Ben Holton and Rob Glover. This somewhat low-key release suggests a compilation of B-sides, demos and unreleased tracks but it's a credit to Epic45's sense of perfection that it is on a par with 2002's superb 'Reckless Engineers'. The group's sound still successfully blends acoustic instruments with some inspired programming, producing works which are ambient, pastoral and thoroughly modern; like Hood minus the angst. 'Looking Down A Hill' treads a familiar path of attractively unwinding guitar patterns, '(Re)sculpted By Winter' breathes out Bark Psychosis-style feelings of desperate longing and 'History Vs The Future' could have appeared on The Workhouse's acclaimed 'The End Of The Pier' album. On the two final tracks Glover and Holton even break out their shells to lend their fragile voices, to particular stunning effect in the case of 'Leaving'. With only 200 copies released, expediency brings its own rewards.