Brooklyn pop four-piece Half Sister has just released its debut 6 track self titled EP. From the opening track, ‘Birds With Arms’, front-woman Sarah Aument’s confident and expressive alto takes us back to the catchy melodies of the late 90’s, while a jangly rhythm guitar builds towards a tense, minor-chord-sounding chorus slightly reminiscent of the glorious days of grunge. The underlying groove on tracks like ‘RGB’ betrays a tight and inventive rhythmic section. Our favorite songs, ‘The River’ (streaming below) and RGB, are dream pop gems that could have been in The Sundays’ unforgettable debut album. While it’s easy to get carried away with genre nostalgia, Half Sister never crosses the line, offering a personal and heartfelt record with several good tracks: whether you hear a little bit of the The Sundays, The Gin Blossoms, or even 80’s Blondie, you’re guaranteed to find a few great summer tunes ready for the beach. – Sam Kogon (@samkogon)
