Ammunition Teeth by Exray’s
LABEL: Howells Transmitter
Rough, defiantly lo-fi, and wholly engaging, Exray’s debut EP Ammunition Teeth is an unmistakably modern take on the bedroom synthpop and minimal wave of the early 80’s. Stream-of-consciousness lyrics spill out with a passive ease over timelessly simple drum patterns, while ugly synth squeals give way to gloriously understated choruses.
The band has been riding a wave of good press across the blogosphere, especially after having an instrumental version of their song “Hesitation” appear in David Fincher’s The Social Network, and it’s all well-deserved. Whether it’s the propulsive drums and detached, western snarl of “Everything Goes,” or the sweet oddness of “Puzzle Pieces,” every track is different, though a common thread of creativity and unfettered pop mastery winds through each.
Ultimately, San Francisco’s Exray’s, the duo of Jon Bernson and Michael Falsetto-Mapp, have managed to make a really interesting EP that flirts with the past, but shoots off in new, exciting ways.
REVIEWED BY MAT LINDENBERG
FREE MP3: “Ways To Stop Time” (right-click & save)
Read the Groovemine review of Exray’s’ self-titled LP
