Northeast outfit MARKETPLACE follow up a flurry of singles with their debut EP. Hailing from Hartlepool, they have slowly built up a loyal following with their glittery brand of indie-pop, and the release of this EP feels like a culmination of their first act.
The EP opens with Talking For Hours. Mixing a little self-deprecation with a joyous backing track it can almost be likened to The Smiths in content, but with much more glamour. This is a track which tries, and succeeds, in really setting a platform for what is to come by firing all of their favourite elements at you from the off. Rhodes’ big powerful vocals mix so wonderfully with the glow of the guitar riffs not only here but on all four tracks, that it just gives you an instant endorphin boost.
Fruit follows next. This is probably the most adventurous track we see. Vocal duties here shared with O’Beirne to create a conversational feel to its structure. The tempo varies more than in its predecessor, keeping you interested throughout and making it the highlight of the EP. What it does retain is that perfect mix of relatable lyrics and wonderful rising melodies. It also conjures up some New Order imagery with its alluring brief base intro which comes back in flashes throughout. A brilliant track.
The heaviest track on this release is up next in the form of (Everyone Wants To Be A) Racecar. It pushes itself the riffs and percussion up to another level, almost grungy at times, but it is all bought back down to earth with those excessively pop infused vocals of Rhodes. Even in some of the darker lyrics (“If I lose on another scratchcard I might just kill myself”), she still manages to sneak them in under the radar thanks to the enchanting tones with which she delivers them.
The closing track is their last single released before this, Edroom. A track with a very ‘80s feel to the instrumentals, it is defined by its captivating rhythms and big production. Again vocal duties are split on this one, and again they compliment each other perfectly. Its another track in which different elements are both contrasting and enhancing each other to produce this smooth finish they are perfecting, the sun drenched rhythms making it the perfect antidote to the changing seasons.
This is a real statement of intent from MARKETPLACE. They have been slowing growing in both quality and following since their inception, but this feels like they have finally taken a huge leap forward. Its no longer just something for them to build on, but instead the culmination of what they have building towards with their plethora of singles. It has certainly been worth the wait.
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