Princess are a three-piece noise-pop band from Dublin with a mix of noisy guitar, steady grooves and pop sensibilities in the vein of Deerhunter or Slowdive. Black Cat is the band’s debut EP.
The EP kicks off with ‘Come And Go’. The minimal instrumentation of the verses are harshly interrupted with some loud and noisy guitar. It’s a slow-burning track with some great texture. The next track ‘Fall Slow’, has a lot more beats and tempo to it sounding like a faster My Bloody Valentine. It is a genuinely great track with a burst into a glitch filled guitar-based bridge. Fall Slow is the highlight of the EP and if you only listen to one track make it this one.[separator]
‘Junk Mail’ is up next with a slow, staggering bass-line and pained howls from the guitar layered on top. The guitar on this track sounds genuinely tortured. Coming in at just under 9 minutes is the EP’s final track, ‘Excuse the Voice’. The band’s formula is again apparent, with the rhythm section providing a hypnotic backing to the guitar and vocals, both of which fill the space with a dose of reverb. The drum-beat on this track is a particular highlight. The track slow builds then steps back before a final rise and eruption into a noisy crescendo.
With Black Cat, Princess has a release with some great sounds on it. The tracks are largely on the mellow side but there’s a sense of dynamics in the songs. With similarities to shoegaze favourites My Bloody Valentine and more modern noise-pop in the form of Deerhunter this band has much to offer. With the EP currently available for download at “name your price”, it would be silly not to check it out.
◀ STANDOUT ⁞ Fall Slow ▶
◀ CONNECTION ⁞ My Bloody Valentine | Deerhunter ▶
