PILLOW DOG - HAPPY HEART ATTACK VOL.1 (EP REVIEW)

Pillow Dog are back with their EP 'Happy Heart Attack Vol. 1', the 6 track EP takes you on a journey filled with nostalgic sounds and styles.  The guys are very diverse within their style and they bring a little touch of bedroom pop, indie rock, garage rock, new wave however they allow their listeners to interpret the music to what best suits them and their listening experience.

'Discard' kicking off the EP and this one definitely ties in a garage/indie rock sound with a 60s psychedelic vibe.  Beginning with a shimmery reverb guitar melodies and then straight into a grungy 60s style guitar riff, with the rhythm guitar, bass and drums locking in the low fi tones and pace.  After a few bars of the instrumentation, the vocals make their appearance and blend in perfectly with the music, the muddy, distorted and almost muffled vocals bring out those old school tones, they are there but they blend in with the everything else on the track, meaning that your attention is focusing more on what is happening rhythmically.  'Frantic' takes a similar style to 'Discard' but with a much deeper and darker tone, this track is more simplistic in the way that the energy follows the grungy rhythmic section from the drums and bass with all the other elements digging into that and creating that haunting atmosphere.  The low tones and the gritty eerie vocals get right under your skin. 

'The Moon' changes up the rhythm, with a down tempo 60s drum rhythm and some beachy guitar melodies bringing a laid back groove.  This one is again very simplistic in style, everything builds on the drums as the track moves becoming more dense and thicker and the guitars deliver the spacious elements and bring that floating atmosphere. 'Four' brings back the grungy garage rock, a groovy low fi bass line that rumbles right through your head.  The distorted, reverb sounds will definitely make you feel like you are in a trance as you listen to this one, the guitars are definitely oozing those woozy tones that you get lost in. 

'I'm Fine (But Not Okay)' goes to those depths that we have heard in 'Frantic' there is a dark and moody feeling to this one, the muddy sounds from guitar melodies and bass line wiggles its way in to your head and takes you into its deep grungy world.  It is a definite song for a hazy dimly lit underground room.  'Addict - remix' compared to the release of the original track, the guys have changed the style pattern making it a more up beat sound.  In comparison to the previous tracks on the EP this one is brighter and clearer in its tonality with the muddy haziness heard on the previous tracks being lifted.  The drums are punchier, the bass line has less low end and the guitars are sharper and glossier, giving the groove a lush tone but still staying true to the garage rock vibe.  This is a pure toe tapper and head bopper, and the perfect track to close out the EP.

Tim and Marcel definitely dive into the depths of garage rock, combined with melodic psychedelic/indie moments and raw infectious rhythmic sounds that gets right inside your head, bringing that nostalgic feeling.  Putting their own unique spin on styles, yet so recognisable as if you have heard it before and as soon as you listen you feel as though you are right at home.

You can read more about the guys and follow them on all there socials HERE