Mute- Mute

Blending alternative rock with strong electronics, intermittent pop hooks, and the occasional semi-industrial undercurrent, Canadian 3-piece Mute bring a nice slice of electro-rock to the table on their 3-song debut EP. While their band name may stir up a bit of controversy (a quick sweep of the web is all it takes to find literally dozens of bands under the same moniker), the disc showcases a hair under ten minutes of solid, impressively produced material.

Of the three tracks here, the EP's lead track, "Like a Thing You Never Knew", seems poised to make the biggest splash. Its sinister melodic verse and soaring string-enhanced chorus are certainly memorable. However, it's "The Audition" that really stands out, its pulsating electronic verse supporting a great chorus hook complete with a new wave interlude. The closing "Break Into Reality", on the other hand, is easily the weakest of the set, getting off to a slow start with semi-spoken vocals atop decent put repetitive electronics. It does, however, unexpectedly evolve into a killer epic finale.

While it's not particularly easy to pin down a band with under 10 minutes of material to go by, Mute's debut EP is a promising start that's alternately moody and catchy. Fans of moody electro-rock should surf over to the band's website, give this EP a listen, and keep an ear out for them in the future.