The Music Observer 10: EPs

The top EPs of 2024

Here's the Music Observer round-up of standout EPs of the past year!

My top picks of this year's albums can be found here, and singles are here.

THE MUSIC OBSERVER 10: EPs

Records which are (usually) shorter than albums. (Note: These are not ranked, but are in alphabetical order by artist name.)

Amistat - A Moment in the Sun

A rich, sparkling but relatively stripped-back EP full of music in the US folk roots tradition but given a fresh twist. The artists are twin brothers originally from Germany, and they’re masters at getting to the core of their feelings and sharing them with us in a disarmingly honest way. This record gives strong Noah Kahan vibes, but it's absolutely unique, too. Listen out for ‘same old eyes,’ still one of my top tunes of the year: it’s a beautiful piece of timeless songwriting.

Ber - Room For You

Since seeing Ber at Barn On The Farm in 2023, I knew she was a singer-songwriter who consistently writes and performs from the heart. Her utter honesty and passion shines bright on the ‘Room For You’ EP.

The Minnesota-born artist has slowly and subtly shifted genre over the course of the last couple of years, from her more folky sound to a gentle alt-pop vibe, but without losing her roots. This record is a showcase of inner feelings which is refreshingly honest, but has been given more chance to live and breathe through the musical medium.

At the centre of the record is ‘Whatever Forever’ - a beautifully paced, acoustic guitar-driven ode to euphoric feelings and the intangible promises of love. Right after that comes the title track, which is deep, rich and patient, the slow tempo leaving no room for doubt as Ber shares honest feelings and finds strength in vulnerability. Meanwhile, the surrounding tracks provide important anchors to the story Ber tells on this accomplished, rounded record.

[Read my profile for CLASH here.]

Bored Marsh - Idiot

Formed during lockdown, Nottingham's alt-rock stalwarts are nobly flying the flag for high quality indie music from the region. Their debut EP already sounds confident, accomplished and mature. It opens with ‘Alright, OK?’: a fabulously balanced and brooding, alt-rock heavy hitter which stretches to almost five minutes, giving the band plenty of time to expand and develop their ideas.

This record earns Bored Marsh a firm place in the alternative music pantheon and deserves to be widely heard.

[Read Karl Blakesley’s review for CLASH here.]

Girl Scout - Headache

Girl Scout’s music is alt-rock of the best kind, both raw and refined; in-your-ears and satisfying; and with well-crafted complications. There's great musicianship, and plenty of soul, plus spot-on vocals from Emma Jansson throughout.

‘Headache’ is the band’s second EP, a five-track collection which peaks with 'I Just Needed You To Know' at position four. It’s one of my favourite Girl Scout tracks: a non-stop blast, the band going at it with full energy, manipulating guitar strings with jaw-dropping panache.

[Read my longer thoughts here.]

Hannah Grae - Nothing Lasts Forever

As I’ve written before, Welsh singer-songwriter Hannah Grae writes ludicrously catchy songs, the kind that drill themselves into my subconscious and obsess me for days on end. Her “mini-album” is a notably more polished record than her previous, but holds fast to her honest, down-to-Earth and outspoken music-ethic. ‘Nothing Lasts Forever' features her four previously-released singles, all powerful songs making full use of her remarkable vocal talents. But they’re combined with newer material to create something varied and really interesting.

There’s lots of great stuff here, including the barnstorming double-act of ‘Typical’ and ‘Better Now You’re Gone’ and the visceral ‘Screw Loose’. But my highlight is 'Need Me Now' (reviewed here), a slow burner which displays utterly masterful restraint.

[Read my live review here.]

(Photo credit: Megan Winstone)

Holly Humberstone - Work In Progress

The ‘Work In Progress’ EP is a collection of previously unreleased demos, re-worked and brought bang up to date Although released as a follow-up and compliment to Holly’s autumn 2023 album - and doing that job very well - the EP stands in its own right, too. It’s progressive, revealing, vulnerable and open.

The newest songs seem to fit perfectly into the arc of her work to date, despite where they fit in the actual song-writing timeline. There's buckets of warmth, confidence and self-expression, and some fantastic lyrical touches. 'Down Swinging' is a standout track; it feels punchy and celebratory, richly threaded with hope and positivity which sings through to your soul.

[Read my review of Holly’s Leicester gig here.]

Loupe - Flaws of a Circle

This Amsterdam-based indie four-piece have honed the art of writing clever, crisp and proficient songs which are also emotive and always thrilling to listen to. They sound fresh and uplifting, but never lacking in depth or interest.

Anchor track ‘Tested Waters’ is light and airy on the surface: bubbly but with the effervescence of introspective energy. The title track of ‘Flaws of a Circle’ continues the vibe but with a subtle shift-up in complexity before a hazy slow-down in the third and fourth songs. It all feels beautifully balanced, produced with fine-honed care with every shimmer and gleam given space of its own.

[Read my interview for LeftLion here.]

(Photo credit: Tony Dočekal)

Nieve Ella - Watch it Ache and Bleed

Nieve Ella has been steadily building an impressive catalogue and a loyal fanbase with great taste. With this extended and wide-ranging EP, she’s taken things to the next level: it’s a strikingly punchy, confident record. Each song is strong yet mellow, and the whole record showcases her sultry/power vocals which remain intimate even when Nieve is fully letting go.

‘Anything’ kicks off proceedings and quickly builds into a soaring and expressive song, packed with indie-rock guitars floating in a richly-layered landscape. ‘Sugarcoated’ ramps up the energy and ‘The Things We Say’ takes it down again while at the same time heralding an increased intensity. And that’s only the first third of the record: beyond that, there’s plenty of beautiful soul-searching to be discovered.

(Photo credit: Mollie McKay)

renforshort - clean hands dirty water

On this record, ren’s created breathing space and allowed herself time to reflect, and the result is a collection of songs which is both introspective and generous.

ren is masterful at creating atmosphere, something which evokes shared nostalgia. There’s an arc you’ll enjoy following from the lazy wandering tune of ‘serpentine’, through the deeply emotive themes in ‘buried alive’, to the burbling piano and gently-driven beats of ‘getting over you’. It’s a great ride.

Then, there are hints of something heavier under the surface which begin to rise in ‘hurt like it should’ and recur in closing track ‘paris has made me a man’ - it’s a reflection of the exploratory journey ren is taking us on and a foreshadowing of what’s coming next.

[Read my profile for CLASH here.]

She's In Parties - Puppet Show

She’s In Parties have really found their feet this year, perfecting their brand of 80s-inspired, synth-rich, pulsating alt-rock. This EP encapsulates the band’s confidence: it’s packed with both dark humour and very serious messages.

Title track ‘Puppet Show’ is huge fun, with pulsating synths, sultry-becoming-soaring vocals from Katie Dillon, and the tale of a bad dream about losing teeth. It’s drawn together to form an honest, kitschy insight into the insecurities of being in the limelight. ‘The Man’ and ‘The Times’ are each journeys in themselves, ‘Ballad of the Broken Nebula’ is immersive and thoughtful, and ‘FSM’ is a powerful, enjoyable pushback against social media’s strangle-hold.

I previously wrote about ‘FSM’: “Like some of the best art, this is a song to be enjoyed on many levels – it’s wise, thought-provoking, and also good fun”. The same holds true for the whole, essential EP.

HONOURABLE MENTIONS

Plenty here this year; these are all very good in my eyes (and ears) - check them out!

Alexandra Leaving - An Exorcise In Anger A deftly executed debut EP which tells you exactly where Alex stands: loud, grungy but nuanced guitar-music which captures and explores female rage without apology or any shadow of doubt; the anthemic ‘Out Of This World’ anchors the record. [Read my review of ‘Out Of This World’ for Earmilk here.]

Carpark - Born To Be Average The London trio draw a new line in the sand; while sticking to their thrummy grunge roots, the music sounds more carefully and consciously planned, polished and packed with new, well-executed ideas. [Read my longer thoughts here.]

Hohnen Ford - I Wish I Had A God Over the course of five emotive and deeply personal songs, we find the artist likening herself to being “as weak as a sparrow caught up in a tornado”; the record finds its strength in not shying away from the pain of the topic of the songs it contains - grief. [Read my profile for CLASH here.]

Imogen and the Knife - Some Kind of Love A startlingly powerful record, richly threaded with dramatic songs which lull you with their beauty before punching home an impactful message; at the centre is miniature masterpiece ‘Red (is my colour)' which possesses a swaying lightness with Imogen’s gently-poised voice as the ideal vessel.

Lucy Gaffney - sittingbugs Lucy reflects deeply on this spacious, careful EP; a collection of timeless, thoroughly rewarding songs, all veiled in a layered but always melodic haze.

Swim School - Seeing It Now Raw and grungey but hyper-focused and with a sense of upward movement; ‘Give Me a Reason Why’ encapsulates the excitement and energy this band always exude.

TOMI - TOMI TOMI TOMI This artist takes modern-day tech-deluged angst and drives it in a new direction, unafraid to experiment and at the same time uncovering new sounds and themes; plenty of bangers here (see ‘USUCK’ and the clamorous, unsettling but obsessive ‘@myphone’).

wilt - wilt Bedroom-rock taken to the next level, combining an endearingly-raw lo-fi warmth with powerful riffs and no nonsense vocals; look out for ‘bite my tongue’ at the end of the EP which will leave you wanting more of this grunge-revivalist goodness.