An EP made up of four different versions of the same song is a bold move, but here, it feels like the right one. NEW HOWLS (real name Jonathan Arthur James) is inspired by alternative rock and shoegaze from the 1990s. Still, this minimal work feels some way away from those reference points.
James wrote this song for his partner. They were going through a challenging period early on in their relationship. This song came from reflecting on “the struggle of jumping into a new relationship after we both came from difficult prior ones and letting go of past trauma” – a subject I’m sure will be relatable for many.
The “proper” version of Bend begins the EP, and it’s a meditative twinkling piece centred around reverby guitars and Elliott Smith-style double-tracked vocals. There are gentle, occasional cymbal splashes and subtle thumps, but not much more when it comes to percussion. It reminds us a bit of the intimacy and vulnerability of Cigarettes After Sex. It’s followed by the “Dark Master” version, which, as the name suggests, has a darker undertone and feels bleaker and bassier than the first interpretation.
The “Artist Master” is the third track, which is a bit more nuanced, subtle and “airy” than the ones that preceded it, but is still rather haunting. The original or “First Version, For A.”, concludes the EP and what was the start of this process feels like a fitting end. It’s a pared-back rendition that is every bit as charming, perhaps even more so, than the other version included here, with the percussive acoustic guitar playing separating it from the others.
As debut releases go, this one is quite a statement, and we look forward to seeing what comes next from this Brooklyn-based artist.
Written by Kinda Grizzly
