Wake Owl

There are warning signs – the band’s name – the cover of this EP too, you could be put off, could have it pegged as faux-country/try-hard-folk-tinged indie. And maybe that’s exactly what this is – but I like it. For the most part. It’s not always successful. At times I’m reminded of that lovely first Turin Breaks album – but then I’m reminded of something fairly ordinary like Paddy Casey also.

And you get the feeling that Southern Californian singer/songwriter Colyn Cameron wants to rub shoulders with Phosphorescent, Iron & Wine and the like. And he doesn’t come close to their finest moments. But it’s early days, there’s a breezy pop instinct poking these tunes forward and given it’s an EP there’s mostly decent material on offer. No real filler, no real duds. It’s six songs in total but one’s a repeat (demo version) so really it’s five songs – and just over 20 minutes.

Sometimes that’s enough. I like this EP overall. But I couldn’t have confidence – yet – in a full-lengther from Wake Owl. It seems Cameron feels the same way too.

Though it’s not quite MOR/easy-listening, there’s a hint of that – in a similar vein to artists like The Thorns. And that’s okay – especially in small, tidy portions.