Review of ‘High and Vibrate’ EP by The Persian Leaps on Land Ski Records

 

High and Vibrate is the third EP by The Persian Leaps and it is an excellent EP, a solid block of guitar driven indie-rock. There’s excellent riffing with a great variety of tones propelled by solid drumming and bass playing. The vocals are great too, really suit the style of the songs with really good changes in feel and expression.

The EP is released tomorrow (Friday 25th September) on Land Ski Records and if you happen to be in Minnesota there’s also a release show tomorrow at the 331 Club, Minneapolis with Dan Mariska & the Boys Choir and Deleter. Doors at 9:30 pm. Free admission, 21+

The Infection
Great feedback / distorted guitar with solid drumming to open leading into a great riff. The vocals are great, I really like the changes in feel and the energy of the song, it has a great momentum.

Under the Lilacs
This song has a distorted, jangly riff to open propelled by great bass and drumming. The vocals are really good again, adding a touch of angst. I really like the edge of tension to the song which has great riffing with really good changes in tone and feel.

Dottie, Queen of the West
This song is embedded above. I really like the feedback leading into a distorted riff which has great tone and momentum propelled by solid drumming and bass. The vocals are more laid back which works really well, almost pulling back or reigning in the distorted guitar. There’s a great release to the end of the song and it reminds me at times of Paul Westerberg.

Frozen
A great uptempo riff to open the song, again propelled by solid drumming and bass. Great vocals again too, they kind of release the tension in the verse building again to the distorted riff. I really like how the strummed guitar gives a great contrast to the resulting distorted riff. A great momentum to the song.

Anthem
A slightly distorted riff with more of a laid back feel, a great groove backed by solid bass and drumming again too. There are some great harmonies and the distorted guitar has great tone and provides a great contrast.

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The Persian Leaps website
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Incidentally you can also read my review of their previous release, ‘Drive Drive Delay’ here.

Review of The Persian Leaps – Drive Drive Delay EP

The Persian Leaps website
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Drive Drive Delay is the follow up to 2013’s ‘Praise Elephants’ EP. It will be released in the UK by Land Ski Records in January 2015.

And it’s a very impressive release. The Persian Leaps describe themselves as noise pop / indie rock and whilst they do have a jangly indie guitar type of sound, those sort of descriptions don’t really do any justice. That’s because The Persian Leaps have evolved a more mature, edgier sound that has jangly guitar riffs but with a great distorted tone, backed by solid rhythm and great harmonies which give great drive and momentum. This is masterfully controlled, like you’re propelled along about to be launched off a cliff but then pulled back just in time.

Fire Starter Brilliant opening song, great vocals and distorted guitar riff. The drums then enter and give the song a great drive and the tempo picks up being reined in just a little for the verse and then lets loose again for the chorus. The song has a really nice solo which suits the style of the song really well.

Pretty Boy Great distorted riff to open the song backed up by solid drums and bass. There’s a great energy to the song and a nice tension provided by the vocals. Again, another really well executed solo.

(Goodbye to) South Carolina Another great opening riff and solid rhythm to provide a great momentum through the song. There’s a really nice lead line and the vocals create a nice edge.

Truth = Consequences Nice use of feedback to open the song leading into another great riff, vocals are spot on again and have a laid back sort of feel in this song which is underpinned by solid drumming and bass. The song maintains drive throughout with another great solo.

Permission This song also has nice use of feedback to open the song leading into a another great riff, but with more of a laid back feel than the other tracks. Vocals again are great and the song has a brilliant vibe, a sort of shimmering, expansive quality.