EP Review

Voxtrot
Raised By Wolves EP
B

College rock is an overused and vague label, but it aptly describes Voxtrot's bouncy, unpretentious, and charming sound. You know that 80's dance where you wildly swing your arms and snap your fingers at the height of each swing, while kicking your legs and jerkily turning your head? Yeah, the one Claire and Andy do in The Breakfast Club. Many of Voxtrot's tracks compel me to do that dance.
Nostalgic and effortless melodies hop along with catchy mid-tempo beats. No gimmicks or strings attached, this is unapologetic and unassuming rock accentuated with gliding vocal harmonies, but heavily reliant on confident, jumpy keyboard riffs, reverberating and fuzzy- but occasionally crisp and ethereal- guitar.
Ramesh Srivastava's lyrics are insightful and poetic, but casual and understated; centering on the theme of unrequited love and the resulting frustration and bitterness of coming to terms with heartbreak, all sung in a soothing and inoffensive manner.
I read this EP was recorded over a five-year span, and it shows, although a lot less than one would expect. The energy ebbs and flows and some variations present themselves in the recordings, but the spirit remains surprisingly consistent, entirely enjoyable and accessible. Bartender, I need some Indie rock, straight up, on the rocks. Make that a double.


Listen to:
"The Start of Something"

Voxtrot's myspace is here. (profile includes a generous and well picked selection of tunes)
Their site is here.