Justin and Tomek describe their music as “knowing no rule, no form, no law; they create them all themselves. They remain an inexplicable phenomenon, a compound of such heterogeneous, strangely mixed materials, that an analysis would inevitably destroy what lends the highest charm, the individual enchantment.”
While that description may be a tad superfluous, the young musicians have a lot to brag about with their blend of melodic guitar influences and confident vocal abilities.
Despite the crude gesture of humor on their album title I Need To EP with an accompanying image of an outhouse, the content of the album is mature and has considerable depth. At five tracks the EP is still an inclusive recording which displays the duos musical direction well.
The first track on I Need To EP, “Without It” starts the album out with a sound reminiscent of another famous duo, Simon & Garfunkel. The vocals are soft and have an edge of sweet melancholy that anchors the songs to a cohesive narrative. Elsewhere “Strange Request” is a lively addition with a jaunty chorus and several acoustic elements. This acoustic influence follows through onto the mellow jam that is “Blue” with its sad lyrical content.
Overall, Justin and Tomek’s album is a great step forward for the young artists. I Need To EP flows with a calm, mature energy that delves into some universal and at times heartbreaking territory that every listener will be able to relate to. If not for the curious artwork and album title, it would be hard to distinguish that the young duo is responsible for making such accomplished music.
Stand Out Tracks: Strange Request, Blue
Rukshan Thenuwara – MuzikReviews.com Staff
May 20, 2010
