JAWS - Milkshake

Jaws are a band in an awkward position, if truth be told. Part of the celebrated B-Town scene, they sit behind the big hitters: enjoying a little extra attention that their postcode affords them, but seeming destined to play-out their band’s existence in the shadows of Peace and Swim Deep. That is unless they can produce something distinct, sooner or later.

EP opener ‘Breeze’ is an immediate example of Jaws’ languid style; summery guitar jangles set a fashionable yet well worn backdrop for some level toned vocals. It’s the kind of escapist day-dream sound that has recently worked well, but here Jaws don’t sound excited themselves about the prospect of escape.

The pace quickens a touch with ‘Donut’ and the introduction of a little growling feedback. But it’s not until ‘Toucan Surf’ that the first and only example of true earworm material lands. Here, the same aforementioned level toned vocals are a base to build from, culminating with a sweetly-sunny, tropical guitar burst over a lifted voice. And so it continues, fixated with its formulas.

Over the course of these six tracks – most of which have been available online since last year – the question that recurs is whether Jaws’ languid approach is one to be revered or rejected. Casual beach-bums without a care in the world, or lazy plagiarists – beauty is in the eye of the beholder.