Hamilton-based fusion duo FuDank ’s debut EP ‘FuDank I’ is an interesting little outing.

Jordan Carpenter (bass) and guitarist Jed Simson share the composition and programming credits on the six-track instrumental EP which includes contributions from guests Reece Gielen on Young Salmon and Axel Plummer on Peace Grows Here.

FuDank creates guitar-based jazz fusion in the style of Joe Satriani – though with a bit more soul and rather less in the way of technical pyrotechnics. It’s a short and sweet debut, which narrowly escapes the dreaded possibility of sameness through broad shifts in tempo and mood between tracks.

Benefitting from mostly uncluttered production the jazz tonings shine through, with guitar, bass and even drums each allowed to stretch out in places.

Nitpicking a little, some of the synth woodwinds used somehow sound really fake. It’s a problem that far more experienced musicians suffer from, but maybe next time FuDank should consider co-opting some humans to fill in those lines.

Overall a convincingly interesting debut, and hopefully we’ll hear more from this duo in the future.