Words: Gareth O’Malley

That cover art is nothing if not eye-catching. Even if it’s one of the most confusing sleeves we’ve seen this year, it definitely serves a purpose, piquing the interest of the potential listener. 

And just like that, the job is done, because from there on out, from the moment ‘Resolution of One’ kicks in, Guards’ brand of psychedelic lo-fi speaks for itself. Sure, the production might seem a little off-putting (and even borderline claustrophobic) at times, but when the songs are this good it pales into near insignificance.

Caroline Polachek lends her pipes to ‘Trophy Queen’ (in other words, Chairlift fans should Get On This Right Now), and the other half of CULTS (Guards’ frontman is one half of this brother-sister duo) pops up on the self-titled EP’s highlight ‘Sail It Slow’ (which can be best described in three words: ‘riff of doom’).

This EP doesn’t hang around: seven songs in just over nineteen minutes doesn’t leave much room to breathe, but it helps that it’s rarely overwhelming. Guards favour a layered approach as opposed to powerful bursts. ‘Don’t Wake The Dead’ (‘The Decline Of…’-era British Sea Power doing woozy psych-rock) is a perfect example of this. 

Meanwhile, ‘Crystal Truth’ does an excellent job of sounding like one of the better moments on MGMT’s second record (one of the members of the Brooklynites’ live band plays on this EP, coincidentally enough) - and this lot certainly deserve ‘Congratulations’ for their opening statement. Psychedelic pop is still very much on the radar, and ‘Guards’ couldn’t have come at a better time. 2011 might be their year. If there’s any justice, they are going to explode.

8.1

mpfree: The entire EP. As well as this new song.