Indie folk group Rearview released an EP last month titled Do Your Best. I loved the EP as soon as I heard it – it’s got a lovely upbeat sound that also adds in elements of rock, pop, punk and Americana, making for a lovely mix of sounds. There are just three tracks on Do Your Best, leaving you longing for more! If that sounds good, then make sure you check out the stream at the end of this review!
By Jane Howkins
The tracks on the EP are all fairly short, with opener There You Are coming in at just over 70 seconds in total. It starts with a gorgeous fingerpicked acoustic guitar melody, before the drums and vocals appear. It sounds very upbeat and positive as a whole, with the guitar lines pulling you in instantly. The lead vocals have a great deal of power to them, with sumptuous backing vocals appearing every so often to accentuate them, harmonising well. I just wish it was a bit longer!
Smoke is up next, also being a couple of seconds shorter than the previous tune. The track has quite a fast rhythm, reminding me a lot of the folk-punk music that became so popular in the noughties. It sounds really unique for a song of this genre, with the vocals having a slightly higher pitch that makes the song sound all the more emotive. A cool electric guitar solo arrives towards the end, leading the track on to its satisfying conclusion.
Title track Do Your Best is also the closing track, with this song taking the tempo down a notch. However, it still sounds like a rock song, with the electric guitars mixing well with the otherwise acoustic sound the track has. The rhythm is infectious, with the acoustic guitars strumming along in time. The drums are used to great effect, keeping the music fairly upbeat, as little electric motifs run through the piece. It makes for a lovely closing song.
Rearview are an amazing band doing something very different, as Do Your Best shows. If you like your folk rock a little different from the norm, this is for you!
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