indian summer - indian summer

Indian Summer

Indian Summer
self-released; 2014

3.7 out of 5

By Demiera Harris

If you are on the hunt for some unconventionally rhythmic alternative rock, give Indian Summer’s self-titled EP a listen. Indian Summer has an incredible focus on melody, crafting these technically complex but easy to follow riffs. You can practically hear the guitarist and bassist’s fingers doing some serious string diddling, not just as afterthoughts but also as integral parts of the sound. I admit, I almost glazed over the drums, which are owed recognition for harnessing the same controlled cacophony of the strings. The vocals are a bittersweet addition to it all; while they aren’t one size fits all; they certainly are the perfect piece to complete the package of Indian Summer’s addictive sound. 

This five-track EP starts off with the midrange “Falter,” a song that could serve as the ‘how to play’ of the album. The melody was immediately impressive, and it does a great job of catching your attention. I found myself excited to hear the rest that would come. 

When this first song ends, it plummets into the darkness of “Hearts and Minds,” a song with intense but well played bass that could probably beat your heart for you if played loud enough. The theme was catchy, too. 

“It was Nothing” was a nice glimmer of light in all that heavy, with a light and bubbly sound accented with a beach-y twang. It was a nice middle track, showing the peak/plateau of the album without sacrificing intensity or technicality. Of course, it was but a mild break as “Places I Fall” took a rapid nosedive back into the murky quicksand of this band’s now trademark heavy sound. 

I thought I had found a favorite in “Hearts and Minds,” but that was before I heard the satisfyingly alternative rock track “Alternator.” It wasn’t necessarily different in style from the others, but it was harsher and had a little extra somethin’ thrown in. 

Overall, I liked the way the EP was arranged, and I especially enjoyed hearing the different melodies incorporated throughout. Indian Summer is really on to something; they have a groove that isn’t necessarily laid back but is definitely fun to listen to, and they employ a variety of tempos and tones to keep each song different from the last. I think a lot of people would really dig this the way I did.

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