Death By Piano - 'Countdown' EP Review

Tracklist:

1. Caves

2. Jolene

3. Countdown

4. Torches

5. Bender

This is a truly excellent EP, my firm view is it should soon become a staple of hospitals everywhere, if this is played to you and you don’t feel any reaction then you’re clearly already dead, there’s no need for further tests.

Kalen has an excellent voice and Greywolf provides the perfect soundscapes to support it.

If you’re not sure whether this is your thing then listen to their cover of Dolly Parton’s 'Jolene', I honestly never thought I could prefer anything to the original, this is the first cover that’s made me reconsider. They imbue the song with both a level of fragility and menace that meant I couldn’t decide if Jolene should have been heartbroken listening to the singer or scared for her own life! If it is beautiful, heartbreaking and scary all at the same time! The singer is either on the verge of a breakdown or about to take the Jolene situation into her own hands and not in a good way.

It’s not hyperbole to say that every song on this EP is a work of art in its own right. The reference point for this music is it’s clearly the unexpected child of Beth Gibbons and Massive Attack but it has a quality and sheer style all of its own.

Karen’s voice is a tremendous instrument, it’s not quite as unusual as Beth but it sounds like it might have a wider range and depth.

If Death by Piano never made any more music then this would be a fitting legacy to leave behind, that would be wrong though, when you’re this good you owe it to the rest of us to keep making music.

Don’t take my word for it, go and stream or buy this music right now. Stop reading, go and do it, right now!