The
Rutabega
/
Owen
Split EP: Near and Far, Vol. 1
is a sweet
indie
affair throughout, with
emo
leanings.
kick off the first half with delicate, acoustic arrangements and an eerie production, much like
Iron & Wine
or the low-key elements of
Built to Spill
. With a track like
"Fluorescent Funeral,"
set up song structures that fall back on each other in a circle, but do not become boring due to the
pop
twinklings that release the repetition. The
section of the EP continues with sensitive acoustic strumming. These dramatic songs about relationships are very emotional and sweet -- the type of tracks that could make indie girls swoon over this darling. The pedal steel work on
"Poor Souls"
adds an emotional depth that would not be there with guitar alone.
"May First Brings Lots of Laughs"
brings waves of melancholy in its delivery and instrumentation, adding an open-ended finish to this short, decent EP. ~ David Serra