Under Review Editor’s Note: With June being tumultuous, I plum misunderstood that Fuzzy P’s Release Party was a reference to the new album, On a Lawn, and not in reference to a physical manifestation of their debut, Fuzz EP. Whoops. As such we are proud to present a review, above all excellently written, and if nothing else, an exposé of the threat I pose in a role with any responsibility. Please enjoy the best 2016 review of a 2015 album to be published in 2016. #FuzzyPrexit. — Jon “Dunker Oats” Kew

Fuzzy P‘s promising first release, Fuzz EP, is a four track study of millennial existentialism. The fledgling Vancouver band laces lead vocalist Joey LeBrun’s sprawling drawl over a ‘scape of blended beats and melodies. The EP isn’t perfect, but it definitely showcases their strengths and establishes the group’s unique yet vaguely familiar sound. The nebulous sound supports the group’s abstractive focus. But without personal attachment and a way to ground these ideas in the musicians experiences it’s difficult for the listener to stay interested.

The tracks on Fuzz EP are all essentially composed of a strong beat and synth themes with interludes of LeBrun’s strained vocals shouting over heavy guitar chords. For the most part, the EP is slow and dense as Fuzzy P plays with this formula. Most of the tracks focus on the spoken word lyrics alternating regularly between the vocals and the theme. But “The Long One,” has a 10 minute instrumental interlude that mimics this pattern while managing to subtly drift between transformed melodies back into the original melody and their typical spoken narration.

“So Young,” the second track of the EP is the most lively one. Packed with an energy that is juxtaposed alongside LeBrun’s heavy vocals, the song rounds out the release’s otherwise weighty tone while showcasing Fuzzy P’s sonic dexterity. The final song, “Wash Away,” is the most vulnerable track. It is the slowest and most lyrical and as the closing song, it seals the the tone of the EP as perpetually searching.

Since Fuzz EP’s October release, the group has released On A Lawn, their first LP. This album continues the young ensemble’s hazy ambiance and doubts, but diverts from their original abstraction by grounding the themes in personal experience, addressing one of my biggest critiques. Fuzz EP is Fuzzy P’s first attempt at creating a sound and figuring out what they’re capable of. And they nailed that goal.