If you haven’t heard of Slow Fiction, you’re in for a treat. Their second EP was released today. It’s one of my most-anticipated releases and it doesn’t disappoint. You can hear the NYC in every second of this — at some points it sounds like Karen O fronting Interpol, but the sound is fully their own. The songs are full of anxiety and tension — from the first seconds of Monday, singer Julia Vassallo’s voice reflects the urgency and angularity of the band behind her. She shifts from rushed spoken-word segments to a stressed, half-yelling, cathartic chorus.

The other songs show similar range. Apollo has melodic major-key verses that lead to a catchy, nervous chorus about being alone after the end of a relationship. Probably my favourite on the record (at the moment):

End of the Night sounds like it could be a B-side from Turn On the Bright Lights, one of the best rock records ever made. Slow Fiction adopt the angular, left/right echoing guitars and busy drumming and make it their own.

The last two tracks are also solid. There Were Stars In Your Eyes slows things down and amps up the reverb for a Yeah Yeah Yeahs-ish atmospheric feel. January ends the record with another urgent breakup song, with crashing drums and a huge crescendo.

In my view, this is one of the strongest releases of the year. They’re on tour in the UK right now sharing the stage with some other blog faves. Hope there’s a Toronto date on the calendar soon.

---