SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: LIKE WHAT – ANNIVERSARY ANTHOLOGY

LIKE WHAT
ANNIVERSARY ANTHOLOGY
INDEPENDENT

To celebrate their fifth year as a musical project/band, Like What have put together a five-track EP of their five most popular songs. This EP, or mini album, is an excellent jumping off point for the band. These may not be their best tracks, but these are the songs that have connected with their audiences and one can see why. Like What takes aspects of post punk synth-pop/new wave with a little bit of punk DIY. The end result is songs that are instantly accessible, with great lyrics that one can easily dance to. A pretty healthy combination.

Although the music presents a jaunty, happy sound, the lyrics are somewhat darker. But that makes it even more interesting. The opening track, “Out Alive” reads like a John Connolly novel. Is it murder, suicide, impending murder, like a great Edgar Allan Poe poem one is not sure, but one thing is certain, the singer’s companion is quite dead and one is not sure how the well the narrator will do in the end. “Tired (Of Missing You)” is also another mystery. Is it a couple who has split or is it something much more sinister.

And yet the songs, very synth based, are damn catchy. The melodies become almost infectious and like a good meal, the listener just keeps wanting more. Five songs is hardly long enough, but it is successful in making one go to their Bandcamp page and digging into their incredible catalogue. “The Red Raven’s Kiss Theme”, for example, a short instrumental, demonstrates what Like What is capable of in the other direction of the more synth pop sound.

The music is beautifully produced and comes at you in layers. There is a lot more going on here than meets the eye, and that is what makes it so exciting and imperative to listen to. Sure, the music is somewhat derivative of the 1980s, so what? Like What makes a great sound and are quite original with their sound and lyrics. Anniversary Anthology is a wonderful way to celebrate an anniversary. And it is a great sampler for a very interesting and underground band. I’m pretty sure that this brief compilation will have people diving into their back catalogue.

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