The new EP from Ducks Ltd. on Carpark Records is the type of thing that should inspire the same sort of praise that offerings from Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever inspired not so long ago. Get Bleak is power pop and indie rolled up into one thing. The cuts here are clever, sharp, and all fairly catchy. What's not to love?
While the title cut sounds like The Rubinoos or something, "Gleaming Spires" sounds like The Drums doing a C86 classic. It does not, really, sound like the band of the same name. Elsewhere, "Anhedonia" is a delight, part Television, part Lloyd Cole and the Commotions. If I played this for you and told you it was some lost band from 1985, you'd believe me. "As Big as All Outside" is one of the tracks here that favors a lush sound, more synth-y and less jangle rock, while closer "It's Easy" recalls for me both New Order and Aztec Camera. These players are drawing from the right inspirations since so much of this EP brings me joy, no matter the influence.
Get Bleak is out now via Carpark Records.
More details via the Ducks Ltd. Facebook page.
[Photo: Christiane Johnston]