You may remember Stray Weather from our previous review of their first spoken-word EP, but the band has come a long way from its original hip-hop sound with its “Ever Endeavour” EP, out on September 15.
Just like before, Mikey Brown’s attention-grabbing lyrics capture intrigue and refuse to let it go. His thick accent doesn’t prevent clarity, and he spits spoken-word rhymes over electronic-dance backgrounds. It’s a little more R&B-inspired than before, and the last two tracks are shiny and smooth.
Despite only being four songs, things can get repetitive, and the EP has a tendency to feel contrived. The first two songs feel especially forced; “Oh Reflection” is repetitious in lyrics but not in sound, whereas “What Would Your Mother Say” is darker and sounds a little like they’re trying too hard to reach a new level of intensity.
However, the last half of the EP is my favorite part. “Fairytales” and “You’re Not Alone” are relaxed, full of chillwave synth and not-as-frantic lines of spoken word. The two songs lean naturally towards the sound of the band’s previous EP, providing a pulsing, alternative beat underneath and closing out the record well.
Check out Stray Weather’s “Ever Endeavour” EP, out tomorrow, September 15!
Originally published on Indientry on September 14, 2017.
Note: This article was updated on May 17, 2020, to include appropriate photo and album art credit.
Abby Jeffers 