Pioneer - Debut EP, 'Paralysis'

Track Listing:
1. Introduction
2. Hold On
3. Day By Day
4. Paralysis
5. Da Na Now
6. Apogee

17/09/14

First ever review! Soon after I'd posted to announce this blog a cheery sounding chap by the name of Dean Grant sent me an email asking him to review his bands EP, which to the best of my knowledge was released earlier this year.
The EP opens with a tense, eerie sounding lone guitar in the form of 'introduction' - the clean tone and spaced out notes really got me interested as to what was coming with the following five tracks.

Hold on is a fast paced rocker with complex and interesting lead guitar riffs; the guitar struck due to its skilled use of subtle modulation. The music is definitely in the 'rock' curtain but a brilliant sounding almost electronic bass adds flavour to the song in the opening. The vocals are solid and are spoken well clear to hear and understand - this is a quality recording. I swear I can hear synth of some sort or description very lightly in the background and this backs up the solid feel of the recording.
The EP skillfully passes from song to song - with guitar ringing out until the opening chords of the next song to pick up the action, as if it was all one recording - and this adds to the feel of a singular, connected record.

Day By Day shows skillful writing in the verses in that the band manage to keep up the fast pace while slowing down the guitar - letting chords ring out - a good use of the 'less is more' principle.
The way in which the guitars fit together demonstrate that - at least in recording - this is a tight band.

The eponymous song opens with clean guitars and vocals that depart from the faster pace of the previous songs, but I find that the change is not a good one - the singer is not as much in his strong suit when not fully backed up; this is not to say that it is bad singing either.
An unsettling atmosphere is created by backing vocals that sing 'ooh's that can't help but make me think of cartoon, Scooby Doo style ghosts - demonstrating yet more of this bands tonal and songwriting palette. I must admit I'm confused as to why this song was chosen to be the titular one as I don't consider it as strong as the happier, more upbeat songs that fill the rest of the album.

Da Na Now, despite its strange sounding name, is a song that would sit perfectly comfortably in the charts - and I can't say I wouldn't like it to be there. The skillful use of a piano in the background and more conventional backing vocals give a more pop feel than that of previous songs on the EP and this makes me believe it to be the highligh of the EP. An relatively complex and joyeous drum fill sits in the middle and this points the attention to a member of the band that up til now has avoided my attention. The song is let down however, in my humble opinion, by having the final chorus transpose to a higher key - inviting a Westlife like style of cheesiness that could otherwise have been left out.

Finally, Apogee demonstrates yet more creative ability by the welcome arrival of an acoustic guitar and yet more skillful playing. Tension builds through the song, until the rest of the band joins the singer and guitarist in full glory - not that this song couldn't have finished as a poignant acoustic track. Emotion, if at all lacking earlier in the EP, seems to be poured into the final section of this song, from all members of the band, until all too soon they depart, leaving the singer and guitarist to finish the song, and the EP.

In summary, a good, well written, and well recorded EP - brilliant work for a debut.
7.5/10