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Indie/Alternative-Dance foursome Folding Legs are sometimes known for their artistic and elaborate on-stage performances. While the one-of-a-kind performances the band is known for is key to helping them stand out, these talented musicians can also dish out a solid recording and audio translations of their musical abilities. Their new five-song EP entitled Glorious captures the bands core potential with great guitar lines, dancing drumlines for days, and singer Katharina Stenbecks penetrating vocals.
The album starts off with the EPs title track as a pulsating alt-rock jam, complete with a simple and catchy chorus line and friendly guitar parts. As the album goes along, you hear the bands signature guitar sound, along with the ability to cover a mix of song styles and genre experimentation while still keeping an identity. ‘It’s My Lips’ (Autumn Wind) sounds more like a mix between The Dirty Heads and No Doubt as opposed to the more familiar sounding songs on the album. I like it though. It adds some dissonance and contrast to the more mellow flow more heard throughout. Being able to go outside a comfort songwriting zone is key for any band trying to express their ideas. It’s even more impressive when a band can explore those ideas while still staying close enough to home and lot getting lost in the woods of over-producing and over-experimentation. Folding Legs have done so flawlessly with this EP.
I really love the albums ending track in ‘God Is A Keyboard’. The ballad carries with it that easygoing nighttime vibe with its repetitive walking guitar line that meshes perfectly with Stenbeck’s vocal parts that feature a call and response style flow. As the song nears its end it picks up in energy and dynamics, just as a band should end a live set. Not surprising the band would want to end an album the same way they would their live show.
They’ll be performing songs from the new EP as well as previous material when they hit the stage at Pianos on August 19th. Until then, give this album a listen and try to envision what elaborate stage performance you could come up with represent each song.. I guarantee you it’s not as creative as what these guys will come up with!
After listening you’ll definitely want to buy a copy here.
Article by: Tom Shackleford
