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.
If I were to put a sample group of upcoming bands in a bucket and randomly pull one out, there’s a 50% chance – probability, learn about it – it would be an 80s-influenced indie pop outfit. The implication of this condition is that when I run across new artists that fit this bill, there are extreme reservations I must hurdle. In a classic quality versus quantity scenario, the issue falls into a predicament of bands all sounding just as reverbed and synthed out as the next. The few and the proud innovators are hidden and harder to discover in the mess of new music.
Hailing from Chicago, Psychic Twin consists of Brett Sanderson, Jonny Sommer and vocalist Erin Fein. As previously stated, I entered into this single with some serious skepticism. This trio would have to bring some spectacular shit to the table in order to tear my snarky walls down. Luckily I didn’t pass this one off immediately as another notch in the current pseudo-retro fad, because Psychic Twin have a lot to say, and it is worthy of any listener’s attention.
With both tracks clocking in at over four minutes, the brief vinyl does not waste any space. Fein’s self-harmonization on “Gonna Get Her” is as infectious as the poppy hooks themselves; the chorus’ melody hits just as hard as the bass-heavy drum pad. Although the track doesn’t deviate much from its initial pattern, the group pulls off the redundancies. Instead of it devolving into boredom, the strength of the composition allows for us to find something new with each repeat.
“Deepest Part” begins with single sustained chord against Fein’s voice. Sounding both vulnerable and controlling simultaneously, she commandeers the song into an energetic deam-pop sequence that sports complex rhythms and bass work that is only silenced by the lengthy fade-out. While I still hesitate when checking out new artists that follow this vein, Psychic Twin have planted the seed that suggests there is more to the genre than assumed.
Check back next week for a look at Hot Chip’s Look at Where We Are.
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