Minneapolis band Hart Lake Mystery are another that took a scarily short time to get their shit together and stick some music on tape. We don't have bundles of blurb about them by it looks like they formed last May and this five-track demo EP was recorded in August. That's got to be pretty good going in anyone's book, especially when we factor in the music being actually really good and not a load of amateurish fumbling or works in progress. We're in the world of guitar-pop, and we're in the section where melody meets that warm and comforting guitar hum without being tidied up too much. In fact there's not much more these songs need at all. Think Big Star, think Teenage Fanclub, think Guided By Voices.
Yes this is neatly crafted powerpop that knows enthusiasm and good tunes will always defeat pretentiousness and perfectionism. They exemplify this approach with opening track 'Sunny All The Time', both in harmonic, fuzzy glory and in title. As long as songs like this exist it will always be summer. They almost marry punk with country on 'Wrote You Off' but then it just turns into more joyous and melodic indie; they almost go grunge on the 90s-styled 'Solace Seeker' that's like a less heavy Dinosaur Jr. On 'Ice Cream Heaven' they perhaps just hit the auto-pilot and the results aren't quite a match for the other songs, but it's still got a catchy chorus. Even at half power these guys are good. 'Key On A Chain' gives another nod to country and again doesn't quite match the first three songs. But considering these are demos, and early ones at that, these guys could be amazing.
Hart Lake Mystery's website
Stream or download the EP
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Love the songs! Dylan fronting the Replacements?
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