The Early Years - The Great Awakening (Beggars Banquet)
UK release date: 19 February 2007
London trio The Early Years received much praise for their self-titled debut album last year and, as they prepare to go on the road in support of Electrelane in May, the promise shown on that release is built upon with their new EP, The Great Awakening.
NME described their first full-length attempt as "an explosion of unbridled sonic pleasure" and this is a line that seems to fit nicely with the centrepiece of this four-track EP - the Doves-esq Say What I Want To. A high-tempo number carried along by driving drums and soaring guitars, it's a good indie-style fodder with a decent tag-line.
That song offers no clues for what is to follow in the remaining three songs however, which veer off in a completely different direction. On Fire is very much minimalist electronica with a dash of psychedelia, while the lo-fi tempo is continued on the chilled Autumn Song with its beautiful harmonies and the pure-Eno ambience of A Little More Version II, which will either send you into a dreamy otherworld or simply just send you to sleep.
