Fruit & Flowers
Drug Tax EP
Little Dickman Records
Out of the depths of alt rock, a gritty sound emerges with an edgy twist on traditional surf rock. Fruit & Flowers’ debut EP Drug Tax reels the listener through six tracks of haunting vocals, punchy bass lines and beautifully simple lyrics.
Softly bringing the listener in with a beachy sound and guitar reminiscent of the Pixies, the opening track “Out of Touch” breathes life into a predominantly female sound and ghostly vocals. With simple lyrics pulling on threads of the ocean or sea (‘…come to my shores’) as is a common thread through out the album, Out of Touch is a bold but minimalistic way to kick off the EP.
The Brooklyn group of four shows maturity through out the E.P.despite this being a debut. Tracks that include “Subway Surfer”, “Dark Surf” and “Down, Down, Down” show a much darker side featuring cutting bass lines a la “Rock Lobster” that create an opposing force to the sleepy lead vocals and cheery backing vocals featured on the tracks.
Fruit & Flowers closes their first EP on a strong note with “Pick Fairy” which features a rockabilly sound and a raging guitar solo in the middle and “Drug Tax”, the title track. This first taste of the grunge surf rockers hailing from Brooklyn prove they are a force to be reckoned with and a sound to be listening for.
Artist Links
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: FRUIT & FLOWERS – DRUG TAX EP
Gabrielle Mueller