Pistol Shrimp is a electronic pop duo from the UK, and while they do have a few singles out already, it's been their creative reinterpretations of other big pop hits that have really got them on the map so far. To date, their two biggest hits are covers of Lorde's "Tennis Court" and Coldplay's "Magic". Both songs are already great in their own right, so it's not really a question of making them better, but Pistol Shrimp did make some waves by putting their intriguing spin on them. The results showcased their skills in both production and songwriting, and really set the tone for this feature here of their debut EP, Heart. A four-track project, Heart's committed to its pop roots, but the melodic synth work and interesting textures employed by Pistol Shrimp ensures it stays interesting from start to finish. On the first, EP-titled track, there's a bright-sounding synth intro, and the echoey vocals alongside them will remind you of bands like St. Lucia and Prides. It's an upbeat, well-done song, and the metallic tinge in Aaron Peterson's voice works perfectly with the type of music that "Heart" seems to be championing. Track two is called "Taking Names", and if you're at all familiar with Passion Pit, then you'll instantly pick up on some similarities. Pistol Shrimp don't fiddle with the vocal pitch as much as Passion Pit did in songs like "Sleepyhead", and they're a bit more subtle with the composition, but the resemblance is still there, and if you're at all a fan of the Cambridge five-piece, then you're going to dig this track. The last two songs on the EP keep the momentum up, and both are stellar pieces of pop, but it seems as if the duo was holding their best for last, because the final track on the list, "Like A Dream", is undeniably beautiful, and a lot more subdued than the other three songs. If turned up loud enough, the sweeping build at the beginning will get your blood pumping a bit, and from there, the guys take it to the next level with a huge chorus and some well-executed background textures. If you're already a fan of the type of electronic pop that these guys make, then you will definitely pick up some key similarities with names that have come before. However, we're not complaining, because just like their covers, Pistol Shrimp has found a way to make the music 100% theirs. Because of that fact, they've pulled off a very ambitious EP with flying colors. Download the entire EP for free here or stream below. *Also featured on the free download are remixes from Fybe.one, ƒLAXEED, roboCLIP, and FØRTE.
Pistol Shrimp