"Ununiversalizable Us", under The Very Most charms

Ununiversalizable Us EP

We have had an EP from The Hermit Crabs and another one from Baffin Island this year. So there was one missing. I'm referring, of course, to a new work from our beloved friend Jeremy Jensen, leader of The Very Most. "Ununiversalizable Us", out yesterday (released on a Spanish label, Little Treasure Records, there's still hope for us!), completes that triumvirate of releases, and does it so offering some unexpected fresh, adventurous new forms. At least in half of this four songs.

"Ununiversalizable Us", the song that also gives the title to the EP, is a very ambitious tune. Initially built on relentless synths that creates a mysterious melody and a simple but insidious percussion, then flourishes into an elaborated composition where guitars offer a radical departure from the way the song begun. There are cymbals and bells chiming, colliding in an explosive chorus where sweet female vocals appear. And sorry, but I have to write it down in capital letters, a MIND-BLOWING FLUTE! Not enough? There's more: a darker side, an edge that you can grasp in the lyrics, which makes the song even more haunting. You don't have to believe my words, just the check the beautiful and very blue new website of TVM and illustrate yourself. All in all, an outstanding song, from now on one of my favourites from the band.

"There's Nothing Missing" is a far more recognisable TVM tune, but I'm afraid it suffers from being next to such a fantastic previous tune, full of novelties. The slowest number on the EP, it is mellow and atmospheric. It's easy to imagine yourself on a quiet and crystalline beach as the sunset falls, warm and welcoming. The Boise, Idaho band has that trademark talent to capture a melody and provide an envelope of lushness and closeness to the listener, but the song doesn't arrive much further from that comfort zone.    

"Changed Me", despite being slightly more upbeat, seems to follow close in terms of atmosphere and sounding. But this time it is hard not to fall in front of its many charms. A graceful female-male duet, smooths, oceanic notes that seem to vanish slowly, carrying us to that unexpected inner burst that ends in a smooth but heavenly epic jam.

And finally, we have "Let Her Dance" a cover from Bobby Fuller that sounds cheerful and vibrant, a rush of vitality were intertwined male-female vocals shine again. The straightest tune of the lot, sure, but by the time the guitar solo appears... you know it's going to be in your head. For a long time. That's, at the end, the major strength of (good) pop music. Great tunes remain with you, grow on you, stuck on you. To find that sort of tunes is hard. Thankfully, we have bands like The Very Most. They have plenty of them. Like these new, very strong, ones. In all modesty, I won't give up in my attempt of "universalizing" their music as much as I can. They deserve it.

SCORE: 7,5/10