The Ambersons

The Magnificent Ambersons

With this (almost) self-titled EP, The Ambersons announce their arrival on the scene with a subtle blend of indie music foundations surrounded by an overlaid mixture of roots and electronica. The unusual amalgamation of genres means that the word 'Magnificent' added to the title isn't too far from the truth.

Opener “A Little Love” is an excellent scene-setter, building to a layered ending replete with a full sounding 'whoa' backing chorus. “The New Adventures of Superman” follows, bringing together a sound reminiscent of The Magic Numbers and the title of a ropey 90's TV show - a long overdue match. “Mary Anne” sits firmly in country/roots territory, including guitar slides, harmonica and a mellow tempo built around an acoustic guitar rhythm. Final track “A Beautiful Mistake” takes a left turn into more electronic territory, rounding off the release with a song that refreshes the whole thing.

With the ability to shed new light on these genres song by song, The Magnificent Ambersons bodes well for future full lengths. Over the course of four tracks, The Ambersons succeed in keeping the quality high and the listener guessing. It will be interesting to see what they can do with a full length.

Grade: B+