Menomena : Wet & Rusting EP

<p> <img src="http://www.qromag.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/09/menomenaEP.jpg" alt=" " />After three years and a three-song orchestral album since their magnificent <i>I Am The Fun Blame Monster!</i>, Menomena are releasing a six-song EP soon...
6.6 FILMguerrero
2006 

 After three years and a three-song orchestral album since their magnificent I Am The Fun Blame Monster!, Menomena are releasing a six-song EP soon to precede their full-length album, which comes out in January 2007.  The EP, called the Wet & Rusting EP, features the first single off the album, "Wet & Rusting", three b-side tracks, and two remixes of "Wet & Rusting".

The four new tracks on the EP pick up where IATFBM! left off, featuring the stop & start drums, quirky sax, xylophone and all of the other strangely soothing noises that we all fell in love with.  If if this is any indication of the album’s quality, we should go ahead and pencil it in on our 2007 favorites lists now.

The EP’s title track is yet another Menomena phenomenon, as they beautifully meld most of the qualities that make them unique into one of their most enticing tracks yet.  The ghostly piano is back in a high stride, while the drums splurge in and out of rolls.  Slightly muffled lyrics of one of indie rock’s best innovators ironically call out ("It’s hard to take risks").  One thing absent from past tracks is the strumming acoustic guitar, which in this case, is adrenalizing.  Altogether, an infectious tune that shows what Menomena’s truly capable of.

As for the b-sides, "Walking" is a pokey bounce, with staccatoed organ and vocals.  Drums really emulate a walk, a strained falsetto punches the air, and every once in a while a falling tuba(?) slides by.  "Polo" features "Marco" calls, creaky electronic strings, and splashy drums.  There are also light digital percussive noises, as well as a robotic background voice filling up space.  "Gay A" is a semi-inspiring track ("big steps with small strides") with semi-sour harmonies and dotted horns eventually spilling back and forth into trademark Menomena jams.   The remixes are relatively bland, not gonna lie.

It’s great to have new Menomena songs that aren’t 17 minutes long, and this EP should certainly excite people through to the new album.  It’s currently only available through the web, on tour, and select stores, so do what you’ve gotta do to get it.  

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