Hot on the heels of reviewing their album, Urban Elephants, for Razur Cuts (street literature magazine) the latest EP from The Kaplans dropped through my letterbox recently.
A very welcome addition to my CD collection it is too. As a recent convert to the music of the band, I find myself lapping up every new tune I hear from them. The three tracks on this EP provide me with much more to love about this band.
Yes Means No
The first track is introduced with a sample from (what I assume to be) an intro on a Mexican radio station to the playing of one of their songs – I base this purely on the words Mexico and Glasgow in the sample. Yes Means No is another powerful slab of alternative punk rock, all driving guitars, throaty rasping vocal, pounding refrains and lush middle eight.
Pulsating bass announces the arrival of The Underside, with the addition of sinister riffs, the track menacingly builds, rising and falling, to a cacophonous finale.
The last track mixes things up a bit. Crack brings The Kaplans Dub side to the table. Pump up the volume and enjoy the rich bass, samples and textured vibrato rhythms. Drift off into the blue…
Just one thing remains outstanding for me now – I need to catch their energy and passion in a live show.