The Paper Scissors - HowlEP

Mon 14th Sep, 2009 in Music Reviews

Q. When is an EP not an EP? A. When it’s a single.

Agreed, not very funny. Much like the extra padding that fills out The Paper Scissors’ Howl – œEP’. It’s not an EP – it’s a single. It has an A-side and a B-side, both of which are quite capable of providing the release with plenty of oomph. Unfortunately the momentum generated by Howl and Soldier is hampered by the cumbersome Howl remixes; three particularly drab and uninspiring attempts to provide the lead track with an electro-friendly makeover.

It’s a shame because as a single Howl is so likeable you’d happily shout it a beer (and an expensive European one at that). Everything bounces along with an agreeable perkiness, before Jai Pyne takes a running jump into a chorus that just cries out for listener participation. Jaunty hand-claps, sweet and sticky guitar hooks and a rag-tag bunch of backing singers joyfully “oohing” and “ahhing” all over the place: it’s delightfully hard to resist.

Over at side B things are a little more serious. Solider eschews joviality and embraces a classic – œ80s sound. No, not the one with big hair and fingerless gloves. The one appropriated by bands that wore black and hung out with Echo and the Bunnymen and New Order. Its brusque temperament is sufficiently of-the-moment and contrasts nicely with the elongated vowels in Pyne’s closing sentiment.

And then there are the remixes. Okay, given their – œbonus’ status it’s probably unfair to harp on about these too much. The Spod and E.L.F versions are at least listenable, but the Ceptoclectics hatchet job is just horrible. Atonal bleeps and blips mangle Howl’s heart in a synthetic bloodbath. It’s aiming for avant-garde but sounds about as sophisticated as chalk and cheese being nailed together with a broken hammer.

Someone ought to shelve any future ideas about appealing to the dancefloor demographic. The remixes are unnecessary, particularly when there’s a failure to show the source material enough respect. The Paper Scissors don’t need – œcool’ appeal – they’re great just as they are.

Howl is out now.