The debut release from Bella Union’s latest signings is a gorgeous slice of Americana. It’s steeped in the history of great American country rock over which has flown a torrent of reverb drenched harmonies. It’s certainly easy to pick the influence of Neil Young and My Morning Jacket out of the skeletal frame that Fleet Foxes use, but their voice is one of their own. They’ve spun these reference points into something so joyful and mesmeric that you can’t help but feel physically lifted.

‘English House’ chimes through it’s four minutes with such love and joy in its heart that I’m constantly left with a smile on my face. The title track, which opens this EP, aches beauty with its spiritual harmonies and Southern Chaplaincy charm. ‘Mykonos’ is the most Neil Young of tracks on offer. Its split of gentle acoustic guitars that builds into a churning and uplifting canter, once again backed my some fantastic harmonies.

All this just wets the appetite for the debut long player to be released in June. It’s the more upbeat and electric tracks that spark the greater interest, and it’ll be interesting to know how they split it on the album and which ideas, all interesting, that they develop. For the moment, this is a standout offering from a band that have found a huge place in my life.
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[Download Sun Giant EP]

Links
Fleet Foxes [myspace] [label]