Unexploded- Venomlake EP

ARTIST: Unexploded
ALBUM: Venomlake EP
LABEL: Self-released
REVIEWER: Matthew J.
DATE: 4-28-08

The one-man project of a Danish songwriter known only as Spine, Unexploded combines trippy, light-hearted pop with headier elements of psychedelia, prog-rock, and electronics. This three-song EP opens with "Venom," one of Spine's lighter compositions, starting off with clean guitars that gradually accumulate layers of pedal-driven effects as female backing vocals add balance to Spine's own reedy tenor. "Lake" is more stony from the get-go, but while lyrics about magic and dragons evoke the absolute worst associations of prog-rock fantasy novel obsessiveness, it's done with such a light touch that you get the feeling Spine's aware he's playing with stereotypes, so you don't have to feel embarrassed for him. Finishing things is "Bitchslapping a Crocodile," and musically it's just as fascinatingly disjointed as its title, starting off with mellow, electronic-laced prog-rock, then bounding into spoken-word and spaced out psychedelic jamming. Despite some guitar lines that owe more than a little to The Cure, this is probably a bit too freaked out for goth fans, but people who like a little spaciness to to their pop music ought to enjoy this one, as will more than a few Legendary Pink Dots fans.

Visit Unexploded online at www.unexplodedmusic.com.