The title track - 'Vanilla' - channels well-layered, epic guitar sprawl echoing Sonic Youth against slow-building ambience - verging on chaos - which creeps towards the song's anthemic chorus - "I can't breath underwater, I can't stand in the air, But I could tear up your whole world, And then not even care" - and the eventual crescendo of guitar solo and furious drum riots, while almost inevitable, is of no smaller impact for it.
Here is evidence of a band mastering a pretty interesting, refreshing noise with an agreeable conventionality, dually empowering 'Vanilla''s accessibility as a song and its appeal to the ear of a listener bored with the blandness of the recently dominant rock sound.
'Safari' offers quiet-loud dynamics, breakneck speed and more rigorous drumming from a relentless Matt O'Gorman. A brief, memorable screech of a guitar riff and an invigorating shout-it-out, one-word chorus make the EP's second track, 'Safari', the swiftest, most exhilarating breath of fresh air this listener has inhaled for a while.
Further resonances with Sonic Youth - circa 'Dirty' - sound themselves on '90 Ways To Leave Your Lover'; though not as inventive or hook-laden as the previous tracks, it's another solid 3 minutes or so of relentless intensity and colourful, aggressive melody.
The EP's closer, 'Because of You' is a slightly more ballad-like take on British India's roaring, upbeat punk-pop formula.
Australian garage rock is not something that I was completely in love with the idea of whilst placing this CD into my player, but from the outset it is clear that British India can pull off balls-to-the-wall rock and roll and still keep it fresh and edgy. A good effort.
Stereoboard Rating: 7/10
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'Safari' offers quiet-loud dynamics, breakneck speed and more rigorous drumming from a relentless Matt O'Gorman. A brief, memorable screech of a guitar riff and an invigorating shout-it-out, one-word chorus make the EP's second track, 'Safari', the swiftest, most exhilarating breath of fresh air this listener has inhaled for a while.
