INDIANAPOLIS - Don't Stop CD-EP

Dundee's Indianapolis have had a rather tough time getting through to the indie crowd around here - initially finding their feet to be in the shadow of the Rising Signs, and playing live sets that were fine in terms of quality but tending to lack dynamics. So, as is now seeming to become a trait of "reborn" Dundee bands, they had a lay-off, line-up change, found a renewed sense of fire and enthusiasm, and the initial recorded result is this EP - and you can't deny that this is definitely heading in the right direction.
Their immediate winner is vocalist Andrew - a guy with a strong lead vocal but, as I've said on previous occasions, a vocal with depth and you almost felt he had his own harmonising built in - now here, he also does the harmonies which turn a strong set of songs into something special.
The opening track is an uptempo slice of indie anthem called "Don't Stop" with one of those choruses that swirls around your head for ages after it's over. Starting with this spiralling, echoing lead guitar figure and deep resonant bass, the effect is superb as the drums crunch in, a 2nd lead guitar figure just flies to the heavens and soars as the vocals enter and this really passionately delivered song surges into life, those vocals just so emotive and heartfelt, the song itself with meaningful lyrics and sung to perfection as the whole thing rises and falls between verses and choruses, that guitar finding a place in your head and heart, and refusing to let go. At what you might could mid-paced, it's got incredible depth and strength, has that rare quality of an addictive hook in the context of a studied and dynamic sea of seamless writing and arranging and, like the recent EP from compatriots The Daze, has "timeless" written all over it.
The second track is "Panic Attack", a track that starts life as this indie-ballad with jangly guitar, lurching slow-motion rhythms, smoothly soaring and emotive vocals, and a song with such gorgeous warmth that you could toast marshmallows in front of it. A brief harmonica figure adds a real sense of yearning to the track as this slowly driving sea of rising and falling rhythms features ringing guitar leads of varied textures and a self-harmonised lead vocal, all of which slowly rises to a more powerful end point via a stinging guitar solo and solid playing all round, as the vocals strengthen, duet with themselves and pile on the passion on what is a truly beautiful example of indie-rock balladry at its finest.
Third up is "Two Reasons" and the intense mood of the previous track is immediately replaced with a sprightly slice of uptempo driving rhythm, a happy sounding spiralling lead guitar and vocals that provide the verse-as-chorus lyrics. The effect is a mix of indie and ska, almost a bit like what The View previewed as a recent new track at The Doghouse, only more dynamic and less "in-your-face". The track itself is bouncy, catchy and commercial yet shows a great deal of thought behind its obvious surface addiction with a solid enough arrangement to make it required repeat listening without the "over-familiar" factor setting in. Arguably, the most potentially "hit" track on the EP.
Finally we get to "Private Eye" and here the band show that they can let loose if they want to - on a track that has certain elements of The Rise to it in terms of its rhythmic pace and swirling guitar textures, only instead of stomping into life, this one surges ahead ina raging sea of fuzz guitars, lead guitars, driving beats and urgent vocals. A storming guitar solo lights the track up mid-way and the vocals explode into life as a slight element of Page 6 styled strength, also creeps in to the equation. Overall, it's one hell of a strong track, nothing wasted, plenty going on and quite dense but at the same time, as for the rest of the tracks on here, quality stuff.
Summing up, I'm both surprised and delighted by this - I liked the band alot but I didn't think they'd come up with a first EP as well recorded, played, sung and arranged as this - let's only hope the audiences out there realise what a strong and enjoyable band this is.

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