The Loose Threads - The Loose EP

The Loose Threads

The Loose EP
self-released; 2015

3.2 out of 5

By Ted Rogen

The Loose Threads is the bedroom lo-if solo project for Nolan Allen. His recent three-song EP The Loose isn't filling but points to an artist with some potential if he capitalizes on his strengths. He points to Johnny Marr and John Frusciante as influences with Frusciante being a more obvious presence in the music. Allen is far away from being as creative or good at the guitar as Frusciante but few people are. That being said, he holds his own amongst the over saturated lo-fi bedroom market.

While the songs are somewhat creative in terms of the palette of sounds he chooses they weren't fleshed out enough for me to feel completely engaged. All the songs are instrumental and have a hypnotic, drugged out feeling rather than grabbing my senses and refusing to let go.

The first track "Animal Tracks" is a perfect example of this. Loose yet steady percussion provides the skeleton of the song while various guitar parts float in and out of existence. The song’s high point comes towards the end where he implements backwards, psychedelic effects that transition into manipulated vocals.

The second track "The Sun in The Sky" has a similar feel to the first track but explores a number of other areas. The song actually ends at around three minutes and has an additional two minutes of silence. Why? You got me.

He ends with "Smile On," which suffered from poor recording quality and he incorporates classic sounding backward effects that Frusciante was known for. Allen is a work in progress and a case of wait and see. He has some good ideas on this EP even if they aren't exactly implemented with precision. Godspeed.

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