Massachusetts band Strange Passage have listened to Murmur a few times. Maybe too many times? The outfit serves up damn good jangle-rock on their new mini-album, and listeners may overlook just how very much this is in debt to that first full-length from the finest of Athens, GA.
"Hour and the Chime" blends not only R.E.M. but a hint of Paisley Underground stuff in to whip up a stew of classic college rock styles from an earlier age. The excellent "Golden Rule" is so close to "Carnival of Sorts (Boxcars)" that I wouldn't be surprised if Stipe and Buck and crew sued. It's excellent for what it is, and very much in keeping with the whole American jangle-rock vibe that's going on during A Folded Sky. There's a tiny, tiny hint of early Felt here too, but it's mostly early R.E.M., early Wire Train, and a touch or two of The Feelies. Those are the influences which so thoroughly dominate the approach of Strange Passage, maybe a little too much.
Strange Passage are worth checking out, but keep in mind that there's not much variety here. But if you still clutch Chronic Town and Murmur close to your heart, you'll likely like this quite a bit.
A Folded Sky by Strange Passage is out now via Meritorio Records.. Details via Bandcamp below.
[Photo: Strange Passage]