Second Skin EP Review

It’s always good to see bands trying new ways to get their music out to the masses and Knives at Noon seem to be doing better than most at it. Managing to get their music on Telecom’s smartphone ads was a good start and now they’re offering an exclusive downloadable EP to everyone who buys a t-shirt from them.

Usually it’s the other way round for bands: you buy an album and receive merchandise, but this would be the first time I’ve heard of a band selling merchandise that comes with free music.

The EP, once you’ve managed to accurately type in the incredibly long address, is six tracks of electronica-tinged pop (or is it pop-tinged electronica?). Fans of their previous work will not be disappointed, but if all you’ve heard is that one track repeated ad-nauseum in between episodes of whatever it is you watch instead of going out to see live music, then you’re in for a surprise.

New Lighter for the Underground is the only track that had a familiar feel to it, the rest seemed darker than previous work, with the opener Disaster for Cinderella setting the scene in an onslaught of pounding drums.  Stupid Eyes and Gumdrop Soul continue the melancholy mood, with the latter featuring a marching drum beat interrupted only by a stripped back mournful chorus. Each song seems to build on the one before it and it’s almost impossible to pick a favourite from them.

It’s a great EP and I enjoyed it more than the bands previous work. Combined with a novel way of marketing it’s a great little package from a band that clearly isn’t afraid to experiment with their sound and their product.