MICHELLE stick to what they know on their GLOW EP

Coming up to two years after the release of their second studio album AFTER DINNER WE TALK DREAMS, MICHELLE have humbly offered up GLOW; a six-track EP that incorporates a selection of new elements but remains firmly in their familiar wheelhouse. In fact, if the EP was released with the B-side bonus tracks on AFTER DINNER WE TALK DREAMS: THE SIDE DISHES, it would’ve make perfect sense – perhaps even more sense than the abstract “SEA SHANTY” that we got in 2022.

Singles “GLOW” and “AGNOSTIC” are solid, driving moments on the record, and it’s here that MICHELLE’s collaborative writing style continues to be successful. “GLOW” opens the EP with a perfect build of energy into its two-step swing chorus, and “AGNOSTIC,” while downbeat, cleverly builds energy up to its chorus before faking out and quickly returning where it began. It’s the new tracks, however, that don’t quite live up to their own standard, and this is what lets the EP down as a whole – “DNR” fails to launch and stays one-note for its entire duration (not to mention a rather unimaginative synth hook).

That said, these tracks aren’t ‘bad’ by any means, in fact they’re perfectly nice, but after the collective’s consistent output over the years they just miss the mark slightly. “ON THE LINE” would fit in the AFTER DINNER tracklist with ease, what with its warm arrangements and romanticised lyrics of telephone-based metaphors – but while it’s a nice track, it isn’t one that stands out. The EP’s closer “NEVER AGAIN” is much of the same, merging muted guitar slides and earthy percussion with their typical sound to create a tropical lullaby of sorts.

GLOW is a perfect palate-cleanser ahead of whatever MICHELLE have coming next, as it appeases inpatient fans but doesn’t do anything too drastic or off their beaten path to cause offence. As they head towards the unknown territory of their third album, I’m hoping they build and grow the magic they’ve made up until now.