EP Review: Little Sea – With You, Without You
2 min read
A lot has happened in a relatively short period of time for the boys from Little Sea since they started uploading covers on YouTube in 2013. After releasing their first single, they got picked up by 5 Seconds of Summer for a couple of support slots, released their debut EP to the number one position on the iTunes charts, and subsequently signed with Sony Music Australia.
With You, Without You was released in advance of the pop-rock band’s national tour and delivers 5 new songs, plus an acoustic version of the third track. Back To You opens with a flashback to some disco pop , featuring sweet vocals in front of a constant thumping beat, grooving bass and rhythm guitar. Friends takes some influence from bands like 5SOS with its catchy, multi-vocal chorus and things become a bit more boppy in I Don’t Wanna Leave. Red Lights keeps up the theme of attraction and emotional attachment that is present throughout and Change For Love, which is the strongest track in my opinion, features some impressive vocal leaps and sustained notes.
I don’t think the acoustic version of I Don’t Wanna Leave is a necessary inclusion on the EP. It’s very similar to the main version, and in my opinion would have more effect if it was actually stripped back, rather than just replacing electric guitar with an acoustic. The double inclusion of the track is kind of like throwing excess recordings at the wall in the hope that something sticks.
With You, Without You is an enjoyable enough listen, but it plays as a collection of individual songs rather than a neat package. For me there’s no ‘wow’ factor that builds anticipation for a full length release.
