Hamlet
Light Under Repair EP

janglepop / jangle rock / college rock / jangle / jangle pop / post-punk

As if to underline a new era that is typified by embracing a resplendent level of energy, Light Under Repair commences with the double salvo of It's Been A Landline Kind Of Winter and The White Stars that both flourish on the sort of college rock energy that juxtaposes the crisp, incidental jangled riffs that fought so valiantly to be heard amid the bombastic rock of an act such as 10,000 Maniacs and the dulcet flirtations with jangle-edged post-punk that the early R.E.M. EPs provided.

Whilst the sound always remains more massive and decidedly more studio than he has ever offered before, Wales still offers his brand of gorgeous maudlin in this latest EP. Provided via Kate Wakefield's cello on 100 Cars to 1000 Planes and via the simultaneously accentuated fragility of both the Elliott Smith-style lo-fi jangly riffs and Wales introspective vocal delivery that simply screams 'subtle plaintive' in Lost In The Underground and the cinematic epic of 100 Cars to 100 Planes (26 Strings Version).

Although his vast back catalogue thrives on the hushed bedroom-pop tones of self-reflection, Light Under Repair shows that this incredibly talented singer-songwriter is equally as essential amid more noise and production muscle.