Hello Victor: 1623 [EP] (review)

Kalamazoo's short-lived indie band fairvue (2007) has apparently reassembled with a new take on the genre. Their EP, "1623," released online, contains a surprising range of sounds: the Brand New- rendered emo of the band's former incarnation with newfound sophistication. The result is something that comes of as classic indie-emo with a hint of pop sensibility. The EP's opener, "Really Me," is unabashedly radio-conscious, with a memorable riff and an explosive chorus that feels almost too big for the song; led by the confident-sounding guitar and shimmering, cymbal-driven percussion, it is overinflated by the overzealous vocal line; the contrast between the grandeur of the music and the impassioned vocals in this song should be-- and almost are-- appealing, but in this case the two elements seem to compete, and the resulting sound is a little anxious. Similarly, the inexplicably-titled "Beer 30," contains vocals so over-exertive, even listening to it is exhausting.

This band experiments with fusing different genres into their sound, most succesfully on the EP's highlight, "Put Your Head On Straight," a surprisingly unpretentious blend of Hello Victor's own unique brand of indie with near-ironic E Street camp. Overall, the result is a refreshingly present, conscious- sounding record. The EP simply sounds like a young band's first EP should sound: cautious and slightly underdeveloped, but well-meaning and with the grass roots of good things. They seem to be finding a reconciliation between the band's creative past and what sounds like a desire to reinvent themselves. It seems like we can expect good things from Hello Victor: with their already- solid stance within the Kalamazoo music scene, a little direction might be all they need to hone their sound.

Regardless, word on the street is that Hello Victor is/ will be signed to an indie label. So we'll see what happens...
-thejunkie

[Download at http://www.anjuno.com/profile/hellovictor]