Leland Sundries: The Foundry EP
Brooklyn based proto-hipster quartet Leland Sundries have created a bizarre amalgamate of seemingly contradictory genres both old and now on their debut extended play, The Foundry. Offering six tracks that swell in multiple directions, the work presents gun-slinger western ‘tude singles between skinny indie white boy blues tracks and softer numbers reminiscent of the broken hearted drifter/balladeer.
With album opener singer/songwriter Nick Loss-Eaton deadpans desultory to cotton picker finger patterns and sinister washed out surf rock guitar resonance. Its a song that could have held its own on the Natural Born Killer’s soundtrack. The next offering backtracks to more distant eras. Sea shanty, “Monitor Arms,” illustrates the album’s diversity with something of a Decemberist‘s sonic lilt and lyrics concerning turn of the century subjects as if written after a trip in Jeff Mangum‘s time machine.
“Giving Up Redheads,” rounds out a strong first half in a comical western format. Trouble with women usually plays out in sad bastard discourse using over-done first person p.o.v, usually that of the spurned lover. The Sundries play with the genre as well as lyrics creating a viable single designed to get them forsaken auburn haired vixens out on the dance floor.
The second half of the EP doesn’t sustain the energy or creativity of the first three songs with one shining exception. “Bywater Rag,” incorporates a horn section of dixieland blowers to line out and fill up a pre-war N’awlens cacophony.
While Leland Sundries relies on relic genres that haven’t been popular in half a century or more their first offering, The Foundry, couldn’t be more current, showcasing a talent worthy of an exciting full length release.
Rating: 6.5
MP3: Leland Sundries “Giving up Redheads”
Buy: iTunes
