New EPs: Larabee, Cowbois and The Orion Experience

TThe Orion Experience create songs that don’t quit, full of stuck-in-your-head choruses, taut arrangements and a slightly acidic lyrical bent that often belies all the poppiness. I’ve followed them from the beginning and with ‘NYC Girl’ its clear the bands improving. The title track is the best pop single I’ve heard since The Virgins “One Week Of Danger”. Other excellent songs include the strutting “Vampire” and bouncy “Rollercoaster.” A special treat is the duet between Orion Simprini and Linda Horwatt on “Sweet Friend” with a nod to Queen’s own “You’re My Best Friend.” Hands down the best EP this year so far.
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Cowbois Rhos Botwnnog “Dyddiau Du, Dyddiau Gwym”

Most of the time I don’t venture into foreign language bands, but this was an exception. Rhos Botwnnog is a tiny piece of land just north of the village of Botwnnog in the Llyn Peninsula in north Wales where the band was born. The sibling trio of “Cowbois” sounds so familiar, yet you will not understand a word that is spoken. It’s the melodies and instrumentation that matter more here…
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Larabee “Expose a Little Wire” EP

Larabee is the project of musician Matt Maguire. His musical style is melodic pop with soothing guitar jangle and a bit of old country soul, as evidenced on his opener “Little Liar.” The next track “Cold Dark Night” explores a typical country theme with reverence and humility that recalls Blue Rodeo or The Jayhawks at their catchiest.  This is followed by the somber “9:58pm” which details the last thoughts of a man dying from an auto accident. Matt’s cadence is much like James Taylor and each song is impressively written and performed.
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