Neu Cold Showers

Cold Showers have just one debut EP to their name, titled ‘Highlands’. As sun-bleached and fuzzy as we would expect from label Mexican Summer, A-side ‘I Don’t Mind’ has influences deep rooted in early 80’s Post Punk. The hazy interplay between male and female vocals has a Pixies feel, and the wonderfully relaxed bass lines and raging guitar could easily be passed off as authentic 70’s garage. B side ‘Near Burn’ is a bit more gritty, but very much along the same lines. With bright guitar riffs, plenty of haze and a propulsive beat it just begs to be played at full volume.

The bands hometown is Los Angeles, a city well known for breeding rock music of the ‘so laidback it’s horizontal’ variety. Cold Showers have played support slots for the likes of Vivian Girls and Austra, and also shared a bill with fellow beach-bums Best Coast. It would not be at all surprising if Cold Showers followed label-mates Ariel Pink and Washed Out, and went on to do a UK Tour.

The band’s sound also has a touch of the Joy Division about it – with apathetic, muffled vocals that effortlessly drawl their way through ‘Highlands’. Cold Showers are very cool without trying too hard– you can picture them committing minor acts of rock n’ roll defiance like wearing sunglasses indoors. They seem like rock n’ roll naturals, not simply another band jumping on the nostalgia bandwagon.