Review by Dom Vigil
Jas Patrick’s new EP, Inky Ovine is full of twists and turns that will keep listeners hanging on every note. From gritty rock ‘n’ roll tracks to country and americana, all the way to a nearly reggae sound halfway through the EP, Inky Ovine is hard to put into one particular category, and that’s what makes it such an interesting listen.
The first thing that stands out about Inky Ovine is the captivating and raw guitar tone on opening track, “Harpy,” and the second is Jas Patrick’s soulful and captivating vocal work that proves to be a strong point throughout the entire EP. “Harpy” is one of the more rock ‘n’ roll sounding tracks on the album, starting things off with a bit of a kick and a burst of energy. The strong guitar riff from the beginning of the song continues all the way through, morphing into quick guitar solos at times, and while it may be a little repetitive, it gets stuck in your head just like any good song should. The song only seems to get stronger as it goes on, as well, with the use of a partial choir in the chorus and some strong guitar work closing it out.
“Party Line (Classified)” follows “Harpy” and this track transitions effortlessly from rock ‘n’ roll to a more country or americana sound. The transition is easy, and that is thanks to the versatility in Patrick’s voice, which is a little softer on this song, but still hosts that same soul that was a strong point in the first track. Where “Harpy” was on the darker, angsty side, “Party Line (Classified)” feels very warm, happy and summery. The guitar work is also quite a bit more versatile in this song, making it flow very well. Following “Party Line (Classified)” is the album’s title track, and when the song begins, it’s easy to think you have it all figured out, but that’s before the nearly reggae sounding guitar tone and drums comes in, throwing you through an unexpected loop. The transition between the two sounds is very unexpected and at first, it threatens to be a little too rough, but then the big chorus comes in and catches you off guard yet again. Carried by a strong vocal melody and supporting harmonies, the chorus of “Inky Ovine” ties in wonderfully with the rest of the EP, making this diverse song a total standout track.
“Little Bug” is another strong track, with the same lighthearted feeling as “Party Line (Classified)” but a huge, sweeping chorus that really makes it stand out. The second half of the EP is just as, if not more diverse than the first half, as well, with “Didn’t Ask” meshing electronic sounds and americana in a way that is incredibly risky and unconventional, but it totally works.
The differences in sound on Inky Ovine can be a bit hard to follow at times, and definitely a little drastic, but once the song finally comes together (which in this case, is usually in the chorus) it’s easy to understand exactly what Jas Patrick is trying to accomplish. There’s absolutely something for everyone on this EP, as well as a few songs that will more than likely make fans out of new listeners. Inky Ovine is experimental at its best, and it only makes one wonder what exactly Jas Patrick has up his sleeve next.
Rating: 4/5
Listen to “Inky Ovine”
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1 Comment
kinda "easy listening" don’t you think?