[rating=3.00]
While old-schoolers bemoan the demise of the long-player in the iTunes era, Magnetic Island go back to the future on their debut EP, Out at Sea. Released only on cassette and mp3, the Brooklyn duo’s five-song collection does lack the cohesion and breadth of a full-length, but it’s perfectly suited for the brave new digital world. The opener, “End in Bender,” roars and crashes with the melodic din of Explosions in the Sky and We Were Promised Jetpacks, and “Sung (Not Said)” mixes some riot grrrl ruckus in with the bombastic post-rock.
The more song-based “Summer Phase” appears twice, with an alternate mix tacked on at the end, and though neither version quite nails it, the tune itself showcases Lisa Liu’s endearing vocals, channeling Liz Phair and Kim Deal over the somewhat sludgy production. She struggles a bit on “Let It Lie,” which is a solid tune that, like the record as a whole, is far from perfect but has all the possibility of your favorite garage band’s first demo. All this promise veiled beneath the budget production is what makes Out at Sea the poster child for the digital model. It’s affordable and divisible, allowing initiates and skeptics to cherry pick a couple singles, then dog-ear Magnetic Island in their musical diary to be revisited when more of their potential manifests on the next record.
