altercation

CURRENT ISSUE

DONATE ADVERTISE SUBSCRIBE

Reviewed by Tim Gruar

Two Cartoons: Lost Boys Club EP

Reviewed by Tim Gruar

Two Cartoons: Lost Boys Club EP

It’s about time Dunedin this indie pairing of Isaac McFarlane and Bradley Craig, aka Two Cartoons, hit the bigger-time, I reckon. These guys have been the darlings of student radio for too long, the rest of us need to hear them. They’ve been at it since early 2011, with hard yards and grubby stages appearing all over their CV. Their man-love for bands like Best Coast, Wavves and The Drums showed up on early efforts EPs ‘Jelly Tip Lips’ and follow up ‘Tiny Terrors’. Back then the songs were about love lost and the deep south home spirit, but the troubadors must travel. Since then there’ve been festivals, recordings in Thailand, a new home in London and this, a spritely effort that sways between squeaky, nifty Getting Green and a full over Peking Man/ Mockers’ number Harry Actually. Oh, yes, the shoulder pads are big on this one! And it has the best lines; ‘I always thought Ryan Gosling was a liar, with a six pack of desire…’ Yeah? The EP’s catchy title track had me intrigued. ‘A desert island getaway? A concrete Zanzibar… We’re more alive here than anyone.’ Is this really a bespoke attitude to their London OE? Zippy guitars and a drop of souring electro-synth, it’s got that instant appeal – expect it to pop up as a theme tune on the next quirky TV advert. Horizon Approaching also has a certain immediate familiarity with its driven chorus running in perfect cadence with the bass drum and snare beats and they build to an oceanic crashing climax. This is a satisfying (online release-only) EP that will, one day I hope, grow legs to walk to a major player. Attention well deserved.