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Reviewed by Huia Hamon

Drax Project: Drax Project EP

Reviewed by Huia Hamon

Drax Project: Drax Project EP

This elegantly presented EP feels like summer – which is a good thing, perfect timing for the Wellington four-piece. With an Audience Wildcard win in June for first track Real, Drax Project is definitely on the radar for future success. Mixed and mastered by the infamous Benny Tones, this definitely has a touch of ‘the Wellington sound’, the four tracks swaying in styles and heaviness, with sparkly synths and vocal cuts. A highlight is the intelligent lyrical content and dynamic song structures.

The drop in of Ants Ransley on Watching is a great collaboration. Shaan Singh can really sing, with loads of rich harmonies and the band Ben O’Leary (guitar), Sam Thomson (bass) and Matt Beachen on drums playing cohesively and naturally behind. Drax Project has a young but solid sound with a load of clever riffs and production throughout. On recording/engineer duties were Hamish Anderson and sax-playing vocalist Singh. Overall the sound is smooth and lush, the texture heavy-ness distracting at times. I felt some sounds could be taken out to allow space for the songs. The ‘Drax Proiect’ EP not only sounds friendly and slick, the content is thought evoking on top of interesting musical landscapes.

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