I’ve been listening to a few live EPs recently – whilst they’re not for everyone, they give a fantastic picture of how a band sounds live, adding a raw power to otherwise polished performances. Lapels are an indie rock band who have recently released a live EP titled Live At Black Barn, and its one of the best live EPs I’ve ever heard.
By Jane Howkins
Sometimes live EPs can sound too raw, to the point that it’s hard to listen, especially if you’re so used to listening to the artist on record. One of the things Lapels have done well here is that their sound still sounds very tight and clean, despite the songs being performed live, showing that they’re a fantastic unit.
Indie pop song Back To Beginnings is up first, sounding gorgeous in all its poppy beauty. The piano melody that runs through the song has a classic pop songwriting style, making it sound incredibly catchy. The vocals sound really good considering this is a live song, and the vocal harmonies on the chorus are amazing. I can’t wait to see these guys live!
The Time Is Ours is a slightly slower track, although it still has a lot of energy. The ska-style guitars have a bluesy feel, being the true stars of the show here. The vocals are extremely emotive and you can really feel the emotion in them as they’re belted out over the music. The piano plays a rhythmic part, alongside the percussion and bass, before the chorus erupts in a blaze of glorious harmonies.
Early Morning Rain is the final song on Live At Black Barn, leaving you longing for more. It’s a proper stomp of a song, with the main chord sequence sounding immense. The percussion has a tribal quality occasionally, providing a lovely backbone to the music. It’s catchy, but there’s a menacing edge, adding a sense of rock and roll to the song.
Lapels are doing something fantastic, as Live At Black Barn shows. It’s just a shame the EP is so short, as I would have loved to have heard the band playing a longer set – I guess it’s just an incentive to go and see them perform live!
Social media: Website, Facebook, Twitter, Spotify, Soundcloud, Youtube, Instagram