Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. - Nothing But Our Love

From the brightly coloured patchwork artwork and their frankly odd band name, Dale Earnhardt Jr Jr give the first impression that they're going to sound like a bold, brash electro pop offering, but on listening, it's much more of a pleasant surprise. A kind of chilled, electro-flavoured floaty indie-folk-pop in the vein of Young The Giant, a more lo-fi Death Cab For Cutie and a tamed Vampire Weekend, Dale Earnhardt Jr Jr's opening track 'Nothing But Our Love' sounds a refreshing fusion of guitars and synths layered over carefully chosen beats. The remainder of the EP sounds the same blend; not over produced or complicated by a multiplicity of layers but is instead stripped down yet confident and comfortable.

'Skeletons' opens with a lo-fi nylon strung electric guitar and tambourine over which echoing vocals sound. It's a bare sound to start with before more layers are gradually introduced, including suggestions of vocal counterpoint reminiscent of the Beach Boys; yet somehow the blend still maintains that stripped-back, simple vibe. Similarly, 'An Ugly Person On A Movie Screen' sounds almost a Hot Chip type feel with vocals over precision beats and minimal harmony; it's a chilled out vibe like a kind of electro-infused Fleet Foxes.

Finely exemplifying the notion that you shouldn't judge a book by its cover; comfortable yet refreshing.

Hannah Spencer