EEP – You Don’t Have To Be Prepared

EEP are a band about to release their third album to the world. Much like the world in which we are currently living the band have been through a period of significant change since the release of both their debut album Death Of A Very Good Machine in 2020 its follow up, 2021’s Winter Skin. Once a five piece the band now find themselves a tight trio of Rosie Varela (vocals, guitar, percussion), Ross Ingram (vocals, guitar, drums) and Sebastian Estrada, (vocals, bass, drums). Couple that with the band hitting a brick wall when trying to come up with an idea for a new album and you can see it was a trying time.

Then life tapped them on the shoulder. The band happened across an old reel to reel Dictaphone, sequestered away for years inside an old Hammond organ in their El Paso based studio space. On the tape, a message.

It’s the late 70s, or perhaps the early 80s, and a middle-aged woman in Clay Center, Kansas–possibly named Anne–is leaving an audio message for her sweetheart in El Paso, Texas. She’s exiting her old life and entering a new one, jumping across the country and into her next chapter. A second chance at love, and an optimism that’s palpable through the recording; a recording that found its way into the hands of this creative three piece. With their time at this studio coming to an end and the band changes it felt like kismet. Estrada had this to say on this twist of fate and adjusting to their new set up.

Let’s dive in and explore this new EEP album and see how this tighter outfit has affected their overall sound.

The album opens with ‘Ghost’ a dreamy mood piece that immediately settles any nerves. EEP are back and whilst there are fewer members in the band there’s no less creativity on show. Ingram and Varela’s vocals weave through this song providing that common thread to usher in this new era of the band. The closing section is particularly effective. The repetition of “Is that your ghost. Your whisper. Or is it just noise?” bringing the song to an end. It’s a sure footed and steady opener.

‘My Lack of Symmetry’ next is a hypnotic mantra to unconditional love. The use of percussion and percussive electronica makes this a real treat for the ears. You can really hear the experimentation in every second. The band exploring their limits and finding they have none.

It’s on ’14 Days’ we start to hear exactly how far EEP’s collective creativity has taken them. The array of complex textures and rhythmic flourishes I would only expect to hear coming from someone like Thom Yorke. The lyrical narrative so overt yet the melody always evolving and elusive. Man, this is took my breath away.

We now reach the albums heart. A two-part story where we delve into the tape and the story within. On ‘Here’s What I Want you To Forget’ we find our protagonist torturing themselves over what to record and overthinking the words they need to say to the one they love. It’s instantly relatable and musically captures the mood of that moment beautifully.

Next on ‘Here’s What I Want You To Remember’ the emotional one two floors us as we hear the voice on the tape. She is baring her soul and the careful instrumentation brought in to accompany her tender words perfectly frames her heartfelt soliloquy. If you still have a dry eye as she finishes by saying “I do love you very very much. And I feel very very lucky that you love me” I will be amazed.

It’s into a moody tone poem next. ‘On Tenterhooks’ is a slowcore, jazzy almost smoky instrumental. For me it captures our protagonist on the road. All the thoughts going through her head as she heads for El Paso to meet her love. The track evolves slowly adding various textures but never overloading that subtle melody.

‘Clay Center’ is a display of where EEP are at vocally. This track has some of the most complex overlapping vocal lines / harmonies I’ve heard in a long time. The delivery of each line by each member of the band is carefully calibrated and delivered in such a way that it sounds like they become one voice. The electronic percussion is the perfect foil to their rich warm vocals bringing to mind The Postal Service in places. That devastating final minute just floored me with its sweeping crescendo and its cinematic vista. What more can I say. Breathtaking.

We are treated to that shoegaze sound that EEP do so well next with ‘Always’. As if to further cement the bands evolution the verses of this song take a step down to reflect the more stripped back nature of this line up before launching into that chorus again. EEP have always been able to deliver that chorus experience you need in a song and ‘Always’ exemplifies that ability.

The album comes to a close all too soon with the title track. The cautious optimism that exists like a golden thread throughout all these songs suddenly comes into sharp focus. Varela’s soaring vocal is utterly beguiling and is full of the hope and love that singing these songs must generate in you. The instrumentation is delicate and considered with lots of space. The last word going to Anne signing off both her love letter and our listening experience.

EEP have really outdone themselves on You Don’t Have To Be Prepared. When life presented the group with multiple challenges they found a way. Not only that they have gifted us with our own reminder that we are here for such a short time, we need to grasp the life we have been given and live it with a heart full of love and embrace the possibilities in front of us. Life has a way of taking us by the hand, just when we need it most, and pointing us in the right direction. We just need to be open to it and remember that you don’t have to be prepared.

You Don’t Have To Be Prepared Is out now via Hogar Records and is available on vinyl, CD and digitally from the EEP Bandcamp Page.

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