With three EPs released in less than nine months and another on the way in a few weeks, one has to wonder if the band, The 1975, intends to put out a conventional release anytime soon.
Then again, considering how good the tunes have been so far, maybe it doesn’t really matter as long as the Manchester quartet keeps churning them out on a regular basis.
The 1975 have enough influences that it’s difficult to pinpoint one in particular. They bounce among styles from song to song, but they never stray from the electro-indie neighborhood.
When asked about the band’s influences, lead singer Matthew Healy rattled off a number of acts, including Michael Jackson, Talking Heads and My Bloody Valentine. But he said the most prominent force in their music may be the films of the late John Hughes.
Above is the title track of the band’s second EP, Sex, which came out in November of last year. That song and disc are the band’s strongest to date. The EP also includes the song, “You”, which is slower than most of the group’s tunes and includes an enchanting guitar line that’s reminiscent of Kings of Leon or VHS or Beta, maybe Two Door Cinema Club. (I should note that I’m not too confident in those comparisons. Maybe one of you could provide a better one.)
The first EP, Facedown, came out last August and included the notable “Antichrist”. The most recent release, Music For Cars, arrived in March. Besides the track, “Chocolate”, it’s mostly filler that goes off into a few different directions.
Their fourth EP, the aptly titled IV, is due out May 20. The main single off of it is “The City”, which originally appeared on Facedown and was the tune that helped the band gain traction in the UK. It’s really not that great, so, instead, I’ll leave you with a previously mentioned track.
By the way, the band will be embarking on a U.S. tour next month that winds its way from Tulsa to Atlanta to Brooklyn — so, just the South and East.
Infinite Shuffle 