Hoops' self-titled EP is too pretty to quarrel with

At times, Hoops’ sound veers into the category of lite-FM-rock-meets-getting-high-at-the-planetarium psychedelia that has brought success to groups like Night Moves and Twin Peaks. Such is the case on “Give It Time”, one of the EP’s true standouts. The track flits between tempos, accentuating the embarrassment of melancholic guitar riffs, and spacey, filtered vocals from Drew Auscherman that give the track a surrealist quality.

“Gemini” is as scenic and formless as a stroll through the woods, Auscherman’s falsetto vocals on the verses are thin enough that they simply glom onto the instrumental, but this actually works to great effect when the song’s killer hook announces itself towards the end and his register drops an octave.

The band makes one pretty significant departure from their comfort zone on “Going Strong”, which plays at ‘80s new wave neuroticism with an anxious bass line and ticking drums from James Harris. Auscherman’s vocals remain understated, and this may have been a missed opportunity to remove the filters and really let him cut loose.

In a way, Hoops’ icy blue cover is quite emblematic of the project it represents. It’s undeniably cool and pleasing to engage with, but the lack of variety makes it hard to form a definitive opinion. Hoops are the kind of band perfectly suited to crafting EPs, so whether they can remain as carelessly endearing on a full-length will be the true test of their longevity.