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The Binnacle List

First Hand Accounts EP

Written by: PP on 06/01/2015 23:06:19

Featuring members of the somewhat familiar Marvin's Revolt, Copenhagen based The Binnacle List have been around since 2011. Two years ago, they released a promising EP called "...Till Beaten Chins", which was a fuzzy, vibrant garage rock record with strong hints towards Superchunk and Hüsker Dü records with a bit of 90s alternative nerd rock in the vein of Weezer added to the mix. "First Hand Accounts" EP sees the band move away from that towards a smoother, more indie rock oriented sound, although garage rock vibes are still dominant undertones within their expression. If anything, the band are now even more inspired by Weezer, and a little less by the warmth-laden fuzz rockers mentioned earlier in this review.

The opener is the softest and most mainstream indie oriented track on the record, and doesn't get the record off to a good start. "Lazy Pace" is comparatively louder and more distortion-oriented, with synths on the background providing some texture. The vocals are still distinctly indie rock oriented, though, but it's better and has a little more tempo to work with. "TOLF" is likewise a classic Weezer style alternative rock track, but it is on "Words For Granted" where the band shine. Here, solid chorus melodies drive the song home; I'm especially a big fan of the buzzing effects applied on the keyboard melodies on the background. The vocals here are more dizzy and more vibrant than before, once again nodding towards Weezer, but also showcasing that The Binnacle List are capable of writing fairly catchy music on occasion. Both "TOLF" and "Lazy Pace" fit into that category as well.

Still, "First Hand Accounts" EP feels somewhat less ambitious even if their soundscape has changed somewhat from its predecessor. It's very straight forward in its approach to the genre, and the songs alone aren't strong enough to leave as memorable of an impression as their international counterparts do. The anthemic keys on "Words For Granted" and "The Cube" are a step in the right direction, but for every bit that they expand their soundscape, the guitar and vocal melodies don't follow along. The grand, late 80s style atmosphere works well by itself, but the rest of the instrumentals would then need to escape the garage rock world to fit in better.

Download: Lazy Pace, Words For Granted
For the fans of: Weezer, Paper The Operator, Viewfinder
Listen: Facebook

Release date 22.11.2014
Self-Released