Almost five years since their self-titled EP, Pike returns with two new singles showcasing reborn energy in a reimagined sound. The alternative quartet spotlights guitarist Erik Hamilton as he steps up to the mic, sharing vocal duties with Katie Laine; a position held by her alone on previous releases. Though they may be the biggest departure from earlier works, the vocals are by no means the only difference. The songs themselves feel as if they have been constructed completely differently. Pike leaves the slow and dramatic comfort of their last record for a dip into post-punk waters with a soundscape that is both inviting yet unnerving, stilted yet stable and understated yet enveloping. For every step into Mac Demarco territory, we are met with Jawbox’s unpredictability.
Starting off with a bang, Final Words introduces the listener to the combined vocals of Hamilton and Laine from the get-go. Laine’s soft nuance accents Hamilton’s matter-of-fact cadence between bursts of colorfully modulated guitar. The duo hits their stride as the chorus rolls around and Laine leads the charge. The song ends with an explosive climax with floating vocals guiding the listener into the second single. Dean’s Place lets Hamilton’s vocals take center stage as he channels his inner Ian Curtis under a lockstep rhythm section, whose thumping bass is naturally accented by a cheerful, warbly guitar. Following a buildup out of left field is a groovy chorus empowered by a smooth vocal duet. Powered by the dual efforts of Daniel Sedmak on bass and Nelson Collins-Lee on drums, This track’s driving rhythm makes it an immediate standout for me.
It is clear that during the last five years, Pike have been honing their craft and innovating on their formula and I’m sure this is just a taste of what they have coming. I personally cannot wait to see how their dual vocal formula manifests, allowing space for both Hamilton’s bassy candor and Laine’s powerful softness to be integral parts of the Edmontonian group moving forward.
Written by Lando Flakes
