Jim Fairchild is back with a new EP as Small Isles. The former member of Modest Mouse, and guitarist of Grandaddy has crafted an album here of warm music that relies on electronics. In a sense, there's a similarity in that regard with classic efforts from Grandaddy. But Everything on Memory has charms which stand on their own. Even if you're not already a fan of Fairchild's other band's efforts.
"A Left in the Sun" and "Dewdrop Daybreak" are precisely rendered instrumentals. There's a stateliness here that recalls the tunes of Explosions in the Sky, though Fairchild's ambitions are his own. Elsewhere, on "Sure I'm Happy" things kind of reach a peak, with the music swelling dramatically. The material here is contemplative in spots, and elegantly expansive in others. Rather than seem pretentious, the best stuff on Everything on Memory retains a personal, emotional heart that's unique in music this ostensibly austere in execution. Fairchild wisely lets this material breathe, and the modest hooks here linger in the head after a listen to the record.
Everything on Memory by Small Isles is out on Friday.
[Photo: Dustin Aksland]