Continuing on a strong tradition of eclectic bands to come out of Christchurch, Somebody Do Something ’s self-titled debut EP is a fabulous blend of funk, pop, RnB, soul and rock.

Having made their name as a live band, the six-piece here commit their fusion sound to record, with the result a neatly compiled and diverse four-track EP. The band members come from a wide range of different musical backgrounds that include pop, jazz, metal and classical, made evident in the level of musicianship on display and the ease with which they move between styles.

Opening track Make Believe is a danceable blend of ska, soul and pop, singer Marlee Fay controlling the song with her vocals over the top of sax, violin, and some energetic guitar playing. A reggae flavour arrives on the more downtempo second-track So Small, though there are splatterings of soul and jazz in Fay’s vocal performance on what is the most funky of tracks on this EP.

The band rock out more on Shark Attack, once again highlighting their virtuosity as musicians and ability to shift gears and styles from track to track. It builds in waves into an absolute banger of a song that divides up the smoother material well. Things conclude within 15 minutes with the indie soul of Seoul Tree, with its jangle guitar backing, infusions of sax, and Fay’s chilled neo-soul vocals. This is the closest we will get to 21st Century sophisti-pop, and I say that not in a bad way.

This compact EP is an impressive debut from Somebody Do Something and shows plenty of glimpses of the sound they have been perfecting on stage. They will undoubtedly continue to grow and expand their sound and songwriting, but this EP represents an admirable take-off point for an exciting collective of musicians.