EP Review: Strange

For a place that is the epitome of Aotearoa’s blokey sport-heavy monoculture, Otautahi is having a remarkable renaissance of churning out quality bands and artists. Jazz-rock infused pop band Keelty’s have just added their name to the roll-call sheet with their debut EP Strange.

The five song effort ranges from agreeable summer kiwi bops to gritty and adventurous and manic rockers. The opening and title tracks Strange‘ is probably the EP’s weakest point, uncannily indulging the New Zealand sound, and in the context of what follows it, it feels like Keeltys have caved to the burgeoning uniformity of palatable but indistinguishable NZ Pop Rock. Don’t get me wrong though, they still have tune on their hands here. If you’re not hanging out singing along by the end of the last chorus there is probably something wrong with you.

Strange really kicks into gear with All the Time and is where Keeltys put their stake in the ground and claim their sound. Fuzzy riffs and sweet melodies, frontman and chief songwriter Samuel Keelty voice floats above the grooves with grace. If there is one track that stands out from the rest it is the mini-epic Lake Rotoma. It is maybe the shortest song on the EP, but it is certainly the most momentous. A near perfect album closer with outro to lose yourself in and where the Jazz School origins of the band shine through. The details that swirl around the compounding excitement that pulls you in. Keeltys prove here that they’re cut from a different cloth, and no doubt if they continue to build their sound they’ll do amazing things.