7inch Sunday is a segment devoted entirely to 7” vinyl and the all-encompassing experience surrounding it. Although most publications cover major releases, the vinyl single is often overlooked and given nothing more than a half-hearted nod of acknowledgement. This weekly feature is a hub for 7” reviews, exploring the B-sides and rarities of artists that may often go unnoticed.
Each Sunday I will review 7” vinyl from artists who venture this extra mile to hold their singles high above the sea of digital releases. I hope to embody the spirit of vinyl while sharing some fantastic music with you, the reader. Let’s get started.
When it comes to musical trends, seasons are more often than not a game-changer. Spring is a time of major act releases and tour announcements, summer welcomes the flood of festivals and live shows and winter gives us a brief moment to reflect on what material the year has provided. Fall, however, rests comfortably as a leisurely rest stop, giving us a chance to bring the music down a notch and listen without such a critical ear. It’s damn near impossible to explain, but there’s something about autumn that forces the world to take a moment and chill out.
Feeding People are not only in line with this fall phenomenon, but they also managed to sneak in a new release during the same period of time. Earlier in September, they dropped Island Universe, a single to complement their debut on Burger Records. To heighten this buzz, the group also released a music video/short film and somehow managed to get inside Ray Bradbury’s home (watch below). Promotionals and videos aside, the two tracks that make up this brief release span both their previous material and new horizons.
The first order of business is addressing the single’s artwork. Blending the three panels of Hieronymous Bosch’s Garden of Earthly Delights and transporting them to the moon, the cover is a mesmerizing blend of colors, moods and the nagging feeling that something isn’t quite right. Whether it’s the melting landscape or animals devouring one another, Island Universe’s cover does a fine job of perfectly summarizing the band. Feeding People, just like the cover, provide a constant stream of face value interest (thanks to the sugary pop sensibilities of vocalist Jessie Jones), but there is an indescribable element of suspicion that there is more to them than meets the eye ear.
“Island Universe,” the title track of the single, ambles at a lackadaisical pace without the need to hurry or move past its initial, feel-good attitude. Jones’ voice is remarkably mature for a nineteen year old, and hidden nuggets such as the electric organ in the background create the dialogue necessary to peg this – as Gracenote has already lovingly done – as ‘Innovative Leisure.’
The second track, “Silent Violent,” begins in the same mind frame and the prior track, but is stylistically all over the place. Jones continues to work around tender guitar work and the occasional sleigh bells for roughly the first minute of the song. This is abruptly interrupted by a sudden transition to garage rock drums and a distorted instrumental breakdown, which runs its course until the end. Suddenly, the music picks back up, and what sounds like an entirely new mini-song consumes the last minute and fifteen seconds of the B-side. It’s fun, constantly changing and is just as relevant as the A-side in regards to mastering the sounds of fall.
Check back next week for a look at Fishing’s Choy Lin.
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