Orchards - 'Losers/Lovers' EP Review

Tracklist:

1. Luv You 2

2. Drama King

3. Be Here

4. Double Vision

5. Age Of You

6. Peggy

7. Honey

8. Darling

Formed in Brighton, Orchards are releasing their EP “Losers/Lovers” on July 6th through Big Scary Minsters Records.

“Losers/Lovers” consists of 8 (yes eight) tracks over 28 minutes although not all of the tracks are new material - “Peggy”, “Honey” and “Darling” have been released before. The new songs are “Luv You 2”, “Drama King”, “Be Here”, “Double Vision” and “Age Of You”.

This is the second time I’ve come across an EP which has quite a lot of tracks on it with some of them having been released previously...last time I felt it was almost as if that band didn’t have enough confidence in their new material and were playing a little safe by including some old favourites. Is this time any different? We shall see...

On my first listen through, I have to admit I wasn’t that impressed having first read the PR bumpf which promises “...big-beaming-grin-on-your-face bundles of fun.” I should, as many of you will no doubt agree, have heeded the teachings of William Jonathan Drayton Jr.

I just didn’t get it.

Listens 2,3 and 5 (I skipped listen 4...well, a chap has to eat) however and there are some little chinks of light in there...”Double Vision” is a great little Pop tune, “Age Of You” reminds you a bit of The Sugarcubes, and “Be Here” has a catchy enough refrain to be entertaining but nothing special. As for the remaining tracks they’re not dreadful but...I’m straining to find a less cruel word than average...shall we say not my cup of infused plant leaves? Oh, and in case you’re wondering, to my mind, the three previously released tracks are the weakest on the EP and probably shouldn’t have been added - more filler than killer sadly.

Orchards have previously been described as a “glittery gateway drug”. For me, I would refer you to the wise words of Erkan Mustafa, Melissa Wilks, Lee McDonald and friends.