Separation Baby is a three-piece rock band from The Netherlands. Maarten (vocals/guitars/songwriting), Leon (bass/production), and Antonino (drums) make up the group. Strangeland is their debut release, a four-song EP which combines elements of grunge and pop into an honest rock record.
“I Don’t Think So” kicks off the set. It starts as a strum-y, mid-tempo rocker, with Leon providing nice melodic bass work. The sing-along chorus shifts to a riffier guitar feel. The organ over the second verse, surprisingly loud in the mix, adds some new texture. Maarten’s rock n’ roll guitar solo over the outro was clearly fun to play, and fun to listen to. For me the phrasing recalled the late, great Gary Richrath. The track is a good introduction to the band, and a strong start for the EP. The band keeps it up on “I Was So Lonely In This House.” The track is a little slower and groovier, with Maarten exploring a few different guitar tones over Leon’s solid bass work. The Motown-like guitar comping in the right channel worked well here. “You’ve Lost the One,” up next, would be their radio hit. It starts with a ‘60s-like guitar riff, then moves to a grungy power-pop feel that previews the sing-along TV-theme chorus (anyone remember the Rembrandts?). The band stretches out their songwriting skills here, including--yay!--a fine bridge. The tune also displays their most complex arrangement, with a breakdown section and layered synth parts on the outro. The EP closes with “Wonderland/Strangeland” which starts with a throbbing bass line under some Beatle-esque changes. The bass-driven verse offers an interesting, chromatic progression under a charming melody. As we’ve come to expect, the band builds into a memorable chorus. The guitars are nicely layered, and the track thickens to a culminate in a clever, low-fi piano coda. Strangeland is an enjoyable spin. The band has written some catchy grunge-pop songs, and delivered them in an ear-pleasing way. They clearly have some skill in arrangement, as well. I hope they’ll continue to push themselves with their next release. In the meantime, give Strangeland a listen!
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