Playing House: Art-Pop Trio Return w/ Jocelyn EP

East London’s Playing House return with their brand new EP, Jocelyn, in April and deliver more infectious art-pop with an increasing sense of maturity to their work.

Across the course of its three tracks, Jocelyn continues to prove the band’s gift for melody and skill at crafting infectious choruses. Lead single ‘Jelly Legs’ is typical Playing House, upbeat, fun and anthemic but laced with dark undercurrents. Their art-rock tendencies, honest lyricism and the distinctive delivery of vocalist Mel Patman remains central to their work, as the EP acts as something of a musical journey through a break up.

There is also an increased focus on synths on this EP when compared with their previous releases, and their work with producer Richard Formby (Wild Beasts, Ghostpoet) seems a natural fit for their organically evolving and maturing sound. The musicals lines are broader brush this time around, the guitar work less intricate and the sound less punchy, and yet despite this gradual evolution, the musicianship is as tight as ever, complemented by an increasing standard of production, and captures the effervescent energy that was on display at their showcase at the FMS Blogtober event, where some of Jocelyn received a live preview.

Guitarist Killian McCorley continues to favour a picking style that draws on Simple Minds and Echo & The Bunnymen, and the band is completed by Izzy Cox on bass and backing vocals. Whislt ‘Missing’ and ‘Jelly Legs’ draw close comparison with the high tempo indie stylings of their debut EP, ‘Penmere’ reflects a growing synth pop tendency, patiently building and suggesting this is a band with a sense of balance and range and with plenty more to offer.

Jocelyn is set to be released on Soft Belly Records on April 7th, with an EP launch show in London on April 4th. More UK tour dates below.

Upcoming Tour Dates

April
04 – Old Blue Last, London (EP launch)
21 – The Full Mood, Cardiff
26 – The Hi-Fi Club, Leeds
29 – Smithdown Road Festival, Liverpool

May
29 – The Victoria, London

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Words: William Sutton