OIB Split EP
This limited edition four way split EP (of only 450 copies) showcases more of One Inch Badge's excellent roster. Track one is from Casiotone For The Painfully Alone; this tune is a poignant ending to the work of this wonderful lo-fi legend under this moniker. The song is a farewell, and in his usual mix of moving and danceable indie-electro he sings about burning all his bridges and never coming back again. Up next is Why? with a cover of The Cure's classic 'Close To Me' and it actually does this beautiful tune justice; paced on the slow side and with extraordinarily dreamy and emotive vocals over raw, distorted edges and steady beats it sounds lovely and he makes it his own.
Future Islands break the mood a bit next with an odd little psych-pop number which bizarrely was written for the kids show 'Yo Gabba Gabba'. It's synth based with a catchy pop anthem but has a touch of Springsteen about it - very short but quite sweet; not the best placement of this tune though next to the previous two. Closing track is from Nullifier, this is an anthemic pop-rock tune with a touch of surf fuzz and a touch of space-rock about it, quite 80s in tone and bringing to mind everyone from Erasure to The Cocteau Twins, eclectic but catchy. A real mix of tracks here and with the exception of the placement of track three, their tone ties them together nicely to create another interesting release from OIB.