• Band / Artist : The Fire Apes – mySpace
• Genre : Rock
• Sample Track Download : N/A
• Buy CD : Kool Kat Musik
• Buy Digital Download : N/A
• Rating : 9 out of 10

Many releases have one or two stand out tracks. With the Fire Apes latest EP release, I’d say out of 5 tracks, 4 of them are pure perfection. The only reason I don’t say all 5, is that the odd one out is a slower track, but it’s still a great track, it just doesn’t seem to fit with the rest as tightly.

This is the Fire Apes third release, but is my introduction to the band, after hearing them on various podcasts. Can you hear me all you musicians out there, podcasts=huge exposure, at little or more usually no cost. The Podsafe Music Network is a good first stop, to get your music out there to podcasters, but the best way is to investigate some of the best music podcasts and email them, suggesting your music. Building a good relationship with a few key podcasts can work wonders for your exposure. Anyway, enough of my rant.

The EP opens with “Hey Kate”, just a quintessential example of the perfect power pop song. At just under 3 minutes, it harkens back to the 60’s when the catchiest and most popular songs only ever ran from 2 minutes 30 seconds, to 3 minutes. Yes there were exceptions to the rule, but just look at the huge output of some of the most prolific and creative geniuses like the Beatles, Small Faces, Kinks and the Who. The second track “If Things Don’t Look So Good Today”, whilst being slightly more mellow, has you hooked within seconds. “Only You Could Make Me Happy” returns to the more frenetic pace and just exudes great songmanship and sheer energy. The penultimate track “Killing Me From Inside”, opens like a homage to the Beatles, Strawberry Fields and is an amazing track, but it just doesn’t seem to fit with the rest of the EP. Actually I don’t think it doesn’t belong, I think maybe it would have been better as the final track. “It’s Over” is the track that finishes off the EP and again the song writing just shines.

If I were to have any kind of criticism, it’s that the music is so difficult to buy. It’s only available via one website and not available in any way as a digital download, which is a huge missed opportunity. Previous releases are available, so I’m hoping that this EP is just stuck in the works, waiting to be approved.

Conclusion : This is a band with a huge future. Power pop at it’s finest and well worth picking up in what ever form you can find it.