Rainbow Reservoir
Album: 400 Imperfect Rhymes
Label: Self Released
Tracks: 5
Website: http://www.rainbowreservoir.com/

Lead by multi-instrumentalist and vocalist, Angela Space, Rainbow Reservoir, fall into that loose space described as alt.pop in the UK and college rock in the US and Canada, with proponents tending to hail from Cambridge, Oxford and Brighton. Rainbow Reservoir hail from the middle of those three, but also have US and European influences.

There is an intellecual surealness to the lyrics that provide a juxtasposition to the relatively simple construction of the music, which has a high rhythmic quality to it driven by a simple drum kit and bass combo, which when it's all this simple really does have to be bang on the markn and which, at times, picks up an almost America influence.

That said the dominent part of the sound has a quintessential Englishness to it, sometimes feeling like a synical review of that 21st century equivilent of the grand tour, the gap year except instead of collecting antiques of the future the proponent is collecting experiences and a good dose of emotional baggage.

This sort of quirky release doesn't always have wide appeal, sometimes the views and humour can grate, but when it all comes together, it can produce some real gems and there are some points where this EP really sparkles. It's simple, direct and well performed. You may kick against the style, but there is an undenyable talent that drives this forward and if alt.pop and it's environs are your thing, you really will find something that'll float your boat and quite highly.

Neil King