Single Review: Standard Fare/One Happy Island – split 7″
Boston’s One Happy Island and Sheffield’s Standard Fare met one another during Standard Fare’s recent US tour, became good friends and as a result released this split 7″ featuring an original track from both bands plus a cover of one of each other’s songs. Standard Fare’s cover is a great sped up version of ‘Kudzu Girlfriend’ with guitars replacing the organs. New song ‘You Can Wait’ a typically jangly guitar track featuring Emma’s awkward vocals telling her boyfriend she needs to get away without him completes their side of the deal. Meanwhile on the flip side track one sees One Happy Island turn ‘Night With A Friend’ decidedly lo-fi with it’s bedroom recording feel. Their new song ‘China Fair’ is a brilliant ramshackle affair which features vocals from most, if not all of the band including some short but lovely three part harmonies backed by their trademark ukelele. This split 7″ is a splendid idea and very well executed. The thing that stands out is that the bands have taken each other’s songs and really made them their own – if you didn’t know half songs were covers you would never have guessed it!
Mark Cousens
Out now on Thee Sheffield Phonographic Company
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