Its with great regret that I cannot give ‘The Jim Muir Slideshow’** an entirely positive review. For though the songwriting is of a high quality and the sound is crisp while free-flowing, this EP brings nothing new to the table, and is too closely linked to the FM pop of bands like Keane and Coldplay to offer anything original.
Infact for the duration of this EP you are encouraging the band to take a left turn and take their ideas to a higher plane. There is no doubt that they have the ability, but whenever it seems like something new is going to thrown into the recipe its subtly withdrawn.
There is not a definitive highlight on the EP, but this comes from the consistent quality of the five tracks present. ‘Angels Guard You’ is a personal favourite, with the dubbing and mixing of the tracks bringing to mind Radiohead’s ‘Like Spinning Plates’ or Sigur Rós circa ‘Von’. The track however is limited by its track length, not allowed to branch out and reach its full potential.
The previous statement in all honesty sums the whole EP up. There’s an undeniable amount of talent and work gone into this EP, but the determination to make the tracks perfect for radio play lessens their impact dramatically. Lets hope this is more a precursor to greater (and broader) things and not a mission statement.
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6Jordan Dowling's Score