27 - Let the Light In

Having already released a full length on Release, a branch of Relapse, and now coming at you via Hydra Head, it would be quite natural to expect some pretty heavy things from 27. Couple this with guest appearances by Aaron Turner and Jeff Caxide of Isis and Let the Light In has all the earmarks of a pretty extreme EP. It is, but it’s not the extreme you’d be expecting. Let the Light In is as light as a handful of nothing. Centered around Maria Christopher’s feathery vocals and backed by mumbling bass lines, noodling guitars and spare drumming, 27 uses economy rather than brute force to achieve some powerful moments. Throughout, 27’s sound stays consistently airy and spacious, even when it does rock out a bit. The chorus of “The Curse” offers some driving guitars, and Turner’s growled backing vocals on “April” offer some brawn, but things never get too crowded. The lyrics aren’t much to be afraid of either. “Every Day” finds Christopher pining for “someone I can see every day,” and the dark and determined, yet somehow danceable, “Make Love Not War” seems less concerned with the latter than the former. What makes Let the Light In work is its melding of spare instrumentation and warm vocals with a low, melancholy feel. It’s a delicate balance held by delicate hands. No matter what you were expecting to hear, this EP will reward you if you stick it out and give it a chance. [www.27.vg]