CURRENT ISSUE

DONATE ADVERTISE SUBSCRIBE

Reviewed by Sam Stonnell

Dual: Lately I Don’t Know EP

Reviewed by Sam Stonnell

Dual: Lately I Don’t Know EP

The second EP from Kiwi duo Dual is both surprising and satisfying in its effortless blend of indie rock and EDM. Maurice Miller and Jamie Pyne, previously of Auckland band Narwhal, combine the buzz and hum of indie rock guitar and vocals with the slick sound design more common of EDM, creating something all their own throughout each of the six tracks on ‘Lately I Don’t Know’.

Dual have a wide-open sound that one would expect from a much larger group, which just goes to prove that good things really do come in small packages. Miller’s Brit pop-styled vocal versatility is a definite highlight, his lyrics meandering through the tracks with just the right amount of energy to compliment each. Pyne’s guitar lines lend solid body. Often their presence signify a fluctuation of a track toward the indie-rock persuasion, but they’re also well-tailored to work well within the electronic dance realm.

The EDM-based aspects of each track are tightly produced and well placed, widening the overall field of sound within each track, and diversifying the instrumental texture beyond typical indie-rock structure. Over And Over gives an immediate idea of the sound that Dual aim for, providing a punchy, bassy introduction to the EP. This energy builds throughout My Way, Honey and What Do You Say? where their indie-rock and EDM tendencies flirt and mingle. The briefest track at 2min 18, Descend offers an ethereal, ambient moment to reflect upon beautiful, airy tones before the title track gives a pleasant wake-up, the most danceable and textured blend of genres on the EP.