EP Review: Pink Chocolate

If I had to sum up The New Things four-song EP Pink Chocolate in two words they would be ‘perfectly imperfect’.

The New Things are Tina McIvor and Jason Tamihana-Bryce, both have been around the indie music scene for a number of years separately and together; touring Japan a few years back.

By ‘perfectly imperfect’ I mean there are little bits here and there which sound like they could be happy accidents, which all adds to the recorded-at-home charm.

The EP features three songs with McIvor leading the vocals, with the last track lead by Tamihana-Bryce.

Pink Chocolate is self-produced by the Paekakariki based pair and it has been released to their Bandcamp page, with CDs available from the band.

The opening track Polystyrene Heaven has many references to the seemingly disposable nature of packaging in 1970’s New Zealand.

The second song Vintage Nerd has to be one of the most charming and quirky love songs I’ve heard in years, with the pair singing it as a duet. It’s very beautiful.

In Time has a gentle mid 1980’s Flying Nun sound about it, it kind of reminds of me of Look Blue Go Purple, especially in the way McIvor’s lead and backing vocals harmonize.

On the last track, You’re Better, former Christchurch musician Jason Tamihana-Bryce lets rip vocally and lyrically, I’d love to know who this song was written about, my guess is that it’s a former band mate. It’s a rip-snorter of a song, and the words are the exact opposite of subtle. Even the title is ice cold sarcasm.