It may not be the full length album we’d hoped for, but this latest EP from reggae-pop urchins GECKO does at least go some way to plugging the gap whilst we wait. The ‘Pigeon’ EP is a quick 4-tracker/10 minute burst of buoyant summer sounds, ideal for warming these cold winter days.
The track ‘Pigeon’ itself (which came out as a download single back in February) is the EP’s standout, a perfect snapshot of what Will Sanderson-Thwaite and Co. are all about. It’s bouncy, positive, quirky, and instantly catchy. Opener ‘Best Friend’ likewise offers the jubilance and light-heartedness we’ve come to expect from the band.
A revamped version of ‘Guanabana Juice’ (from 2008’s ‘Songs In The Key Of Lizard’) refreshes what is undeniably a live favourite amongst those that frequent the band’s gigs, not to mention the song that brought national radio calling. It’s an improved number that feels not just fresher but also illustrates the band’s trademark sound better.
Closing track ‘Understand’ offers something a little different. Stripped down to just Sanderson-Thwaite’s vocals and guitar, the track is more akin to the introspective acoustic singer/songwriters that seem to be plying their trade in droves of late. It’s an intriguing departure that shows Gecko hasn’t settled stylistically just yet.
Ultimately ‘Pigeon’ isn’t quite as strong as previous EP, ‘Stop. Look. Lizard.’ but still manages to capture Gecko‘s inimitable style and continues to whet the appetite for a full length release.
ALEX HAMBLETON