Pittsburgh quartet Pitter Patter whose blend of glistening emo pop and intricate indie rock intonations release their latest six track EP `Kracken at the Seams` this month which follows on from their debut album `Naturally Selected`.
The acoustic `Push Me` leads us in and opens with the sound of flowing water, a strummed guitar, and vocal harmonies. This gentle introspective number bursts into life in the last forty seconds with a pounding drum taking the reins and guiding us out. There`s an dreamy emo ambience to `Laundry` with vocals that portray a kind of frustrated disappointment possibly at the breakup of a relationship.
`M.E.O.W.` has a much harder edge with a churning rhythmic rolling texture and seemed to be almost heading into Muse territory. Soundbite segments are interspersed occasionally throughout this submission which ends with a cat`s meow. I read that `Oh? Possum!` is an honest look at life’s unpredictability and struggles and lead vocalist Seth has shared “The main message in this song is that some things are out of your control, aspects of life that are unfair, yet we are all here doing our best to make the most out of the life we are given.” It does convey a sense of exasperation in the vocal delivery and is a fairly forceful slice of indie rock. It becomes quite anthemic at times, has a section that sounds as if the recording is being played backwards before closing out with a quite illusory sound.
In `Bandages` we have a track that looks at the difficulty of ripping yourself out of a rut, and the behavioural change required to make a shift for the better. It`s a pensive quite contemplative number with an underlying heavy rock underbelly and a cracking guitar solo blasted out in the dying embers of the song. This six tracker closes out with The `Dive` a melodic almost ballad like composition with some enticing understated guitar chord riffs, a guiding drumbeat with an overwhelming atmosphere created for lit phones and lighters when shared live. The number ends as it began with the sound of flowing water which may symbolise change and the passage of time or life and renewal.
It’s been a couple of years since Pitter Patter who comprise of Seth Berkin (guitar, vocals), Dave Connuck (bass, vocals), Benji Cohen (guitar) and Brian Ihejurobi (drums) released their debut album and on the strength of what is shared here there`s much to look forward to.
Rating 8.5/10
