Review Summary: This electronic/indie-pop group, Le Very, present their excellent debut EP, delivering an engrossing 27 minute experience from start-to-finish.
Playground marks the introduction of this very unique indie group from Berlin. Featuring 3 songs, and 2 remixes, this EP shines very brightly thanks to fantastic vocal performances, addictive synth-beats and a haunting atmosphere that is maintained throughout. Similar to Nine Inch Nails, the instrumentals have a very distinct, industrialised edge to them, giving the tracks their fair share of darkness and grit. Unfortunately, like so many other EPs before it, the only thing that holds the album back are the pointless remixes at the close. Despite that tactical error, Le Very press on and convey a gorgeous sound within their original compositions.
Opening up the EP, title track
"Playground" immediately leaves a positive impression due to nostalgia driven electro-beats, rousing drum-kicks and a compelling chorus that sees a mesmerizing duet between the lead vocalists. Much like Kavinsky's
"Nightcall", the track has a sense of foreboding sprinkled throughout the poppy, synthesised melodies, giving the chorus an added edge and power with the lines:
"and when the moon shines from above / it's only you I'm dreaming of / see my reflection in your dream / it's a cold and bitter breeze".
"The Dive" and
"Marching On" follow up the title track quite nicely, retaining similarly joyous rhythms and surprisingly intricate songwriting throughout. Even more compelling though is the final third of "Marching On" which suddenly jumps into a very jazzy, ska-inspired horns section that is quite easily the highlight moment on the whole record. It comes out of nowhere and leaves you wanting more strikingly inspired pieces.
Only to be disappointed, as meandering remixes of
"The Dive" and
"Playground" follow up instead. While there are some stellar moments spliced in throughout the tracks, they are nevertheless utterly disposable when compared to the quality of the original compositions. Still, even though the reworkings are underwhelming,
Playground is a bold, extremely well-crafted EP all the same. Le Very mean business here and when they release a full LP, they should instantly become a force to be reckoned with in the genre. This is a great effort on their part.
