OIB Records Split Series – Volume 2

One image comes to mind when anticipating an experimental EP featuring Suburban Kids with Biblical Names and Half-Handed Cloud.Cute, like a kitten.However the slightly more musically serious SJ Esau and Kopek may embellish this cute atmosphere with a bit of force and stealth, like a bull terrier bullying the kitten into premature adulthood. The split 7” is a release by OIB Records, the second in a series of split records wherein four artists are chosen based on their similar approaches to constructing music.Up first is USA’s Half-Handed Cloud with ‘When Overwhelmed With Dread’, a happy-go-lucky pop piece in a similar style to Ben Folds or early Of Montreal, with distinctive, slightly out of tune vocals. An intricate combination of strings, whistling and upbeat piano are both impressive and catchy, and the overall effect is childlike, as though Ringhofer has a mind like a fairground.If you like your music to sound like a day at the fair, then SJ Esau’s ‘Part Of A Diagram’ will rip the candyfloss straight from your hands. Known for his experimental style and ability to intertwine a multitude of genres into one track, UK effort SJ Esau combines fast-paced piano with haunting monk-like chanting and an emergence of rock and electro. Over-lapping vocals and prolonged seconds of static noise make this track slightly menacing but eerily infectious.The cuteness returns with Sweden’s Suburban Kids With Biblical Names, armed with xylophones and lyrics about birds and dogs. In ‘God Save Roger Nichols’, Johan Hedberg’s deep vocals are by themselves captivating, but once paired with cheery synths and rhythmic drumming the song is impossible to not dance to ”“ or at the very least, sway slightly.The EP is rounded off with an offering from UK artist Kopek (aka Marcus Hamblett of Sons Of Noel and Adrian), ‘The Way You Are’. Softer and less experimental than Hamblett's usual efforts, Kopek shows that talent can shine through under any circumstances, even with a song that lasts a mere two minutes and with repetitive lyrics. The mix of minimal clarinet, melancholic vocals and instrumentals reminiscent of Sufjan Stevens make this song an undeniably tasty treat.Delicate vocals and infectious melodies, this may be the perfect four-track EP for those with a sweet tooth. The excellently mixed track listing means that the twee balance is just right, a necessity as we all know what happens when you intake too much sugar. You get the jitters. 70%OIB Records official site