High High's lead vocalist Jack Milas calmly infers “I wonder if you sat down, try to worry” in the final track Once Around The House off the band's new self-titled EP, the message is essential for those who wish to experience the full power of this five-track gem.
The trio are armed with bass, strings, synths, piano, celeste and their beautifully trained voices, presenting a relaxing sound that avoids drifting to background music by sparking attention with the band's distinct vocals and detailed musicality.
Milas' high, airy voice blends effortlessly into falsetto in Open Season, poignantly backed by basic guitar picking and Oli Chang's perfectly placed piano chords, allowing vocals taking the fore on what is an incredibly strong start. The aforementioned Once Around The House beautifully delves into the same territory, with vocal harmonies lulling the song into a calm steady beat to only give rhythm to the boys' natural instruments.
Horses is the fastest addition to EP, experimenting with almost a folk or blues sound, characteristic of the rural subject matter. Much like the remainder of the release, Zach Lipkin's constant but light drumbeat lowers the volume, before Milas' brief but effective guitar strumming hits at a slightly higher frequency to give that jolt that fascinatingly contrasts to the band's sound. Just when you think you know their method, they keep you guessing.
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A very successful EP for High Highs, who have appropriately taken some time off to present a sound that leaves this reviewer in anticipation for a new full-length.
