Only six months after the release of their self-titled debut (QRO Review), UK’s The Early Years have given themselves some extra touring material with their new EP, Great Awakening. Mostly recorded at the same time as The Early Years, the band doesn’t really tread much new terrain on this piece, though it does venture further with their affecting drones. But Great Awakening is primarily just an extension of The Early Years, and that means it’s good.
The one song on it not recorded in The Early Years sessions was the opening track, “Say What I Want To”. The obvious single, it has a driving beat with well-crafted, atmospheric guitars. It is also the only track the band has recorded so far with their new (and first full-time) bassist, long-time friend (and “key link” in the formation of the group) Brendan Kersey. Yet “Say” might be the song on the EP that most resembles their self-titled debut. Other than a slightly more prominent bass beat (finally getting a permanent bassist will do that), “Say” displays close similarities to prior singles, “So Far Gone” and “All Ones and Zeroes”. Of course, those are great songs, and so is “Say What I Want To”.
The Early Years are more experimental with the other three songs on the EP (which was probably why they weren’t on their debut), focusing closer on electronica and soft krautrock. “On Fire” is more of a lap-pop number, with nice drones and drones-like vocals, and while it may be too simple, it is certainly not forgettable. “Autumn Song” is perhaps the most interesting track on Great Awakening, as a sort of a mash-up of the single-worthy stylings of “Say” and the drones of “On Fire”, but it also has its own identity, being both brighter than the prior two, and yet also more poignant (making the title representative, and not overwrought). The record ends with the keyboard-and-drones feedback of “A Little More Version II”, and while haunting and well done, the four-song release could be considered too limited to have so much drones-experimentation.
While certainly less than a full-fledged release, Great Awakening is still far more than just unreleased bonus material, slapped onto a quicky EP. It has a gripping and enjoyable new single to lead it off, and the rest of the tracks are strong pieces in their own right. None of three feel too experimental, as the clearly derive from The Early Years’ straighter work on their self-titled debut. If perhaps this EP hews a little too closely to prior work, and perhaps is a little too small to devote so much time to experimentation, those are strong wells when one talks about The Early Years. Not a full meal, no, nor a brand new flavor, but still a very tasty treat.
