Drawling guitars and sharp beats accompany Sam Frankl’s Morrissey-esque (but much more distinctive) voice on this debut EP. The xx are an obvious reference point, with the fragmented drums interweaving throughout, but Red Room exhibit their pop sensibilities in a much more clear manner.
Opening track 'I’ll Be Fine' has a memorable; if not terribly exciting, repeated refrain to it. 'Lean on Me' is more interesting with 15 year old Serena Clara’s vocals contrasting with the tracks’ gritty, disjointed feel quite nicely. It’s a bit like hearing Kate Nash, without the annoying cockney slang, taking a jab at something a bit more down tempo. My main memo to Clara would be that the track would be twice as good without the ‘la-la’s infecting every verse, especially because her voice works very well against Frankl’s.
Despite the titles 'Lean On Me' and 'I’ll Be Fine', this is a very subdued and lyrically sombre affair overall. Like Marianne, the closing track on the EP, burns slowly and uncomfortably – try the lyrics “Like heroin you lay in my arms” for size. Whilst you can appreciate the deliberately unsettling atmosphere, at least to a degree, the quirky guitar lines aligned with straight forward melodies just become frustrating.
'Waxpoetics' is, however, a solid debut release from a band that sound a little coarse in their approach. If 'Lean on Me' is the strongest evidence of this band’s potential, then an album down the line could be a more enthralling prospect.
Stereoboard EP Rating: 6/10
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