Is this a super-group? The music of these folks comes from a place not inclined to hear a lot of use of that kind of term. But when talents like Mike Ramos (Tony Jay) and Ray Seraphin (R.E. Seraphin) come together, the results can only be special. In my world, this new EP from The Pennys is the work of a super-group. Thankfully it's not Asia by Asia though.
Opener "Say Something" glides in on breathy vocals, a simple hook embellished by faint keyboard accents, while "One Million Things" is a bit more complex. This one is hushed, but layers of instrumentation give this a hint of The Clientele or even bits of mid-period works from The Auteurs. Of course, The Pennys echo the material of the two players in the band more than any points of possible comparison. In that regard, The Pennys is direct where recent Tony Jay albums were dreamy, and, conversely, it's dreamier than the jangle-pop of some R.E. Seraphin releases too. The pairing of those two talents -- with significant contributions from Yea-Ming Chen (of site faves Yea-Ming and the Rumours), Luke Robbins, Owen Adair-Kelley -- is a significant event as far as I'm concerned. None of those players has ever put forth anything that wasn't something I loved.
The Pennys is a self-contained record, an EP that distills the charms of the musicians involved, and a reminder of how much by stripping back, the tunes shine harder. "Long in the Tooth", to use yet another example, takes a hook that's very Jesus & Mary Chain-y, renders it simply, and pushes it forward with the kind of quiet-yet-determined energy that suggests a confidence in knowing how not to overdo things. As it is, that approach is exactly what gives The Pennys a kind of subtle power. The material is unemcumbered, yet adorned just enough to give the entirety of The Pennys the same kind of listenability that other works from Mike Ramos and Ray Seraphin have had.
The Pennys by The Pennys is out this week via Mt. St. Mtn..
[Photo: The Pennys]