OxenFree

It is getting hot and humid and New York and I am getting careless. Strange how OxenFree was able to to capture that exact mood in their forthcoming EP Fire, If We're Anything despite recording in the New York wintertime. Maybe it is the brass on "Signal Fire," or the imagery of "Make Out," but this release says everything you need to think, feel and know about connection in this moment. Streaming this preview will pull you deeper into the present than you knew was possible, or your money back.

Fire, If We're Anything is just a taste of what OxenFree put together this past winter. They have seven more tracks in the bank. (Like, stop holding out, guys!) For sure, the coyness and vulnerability of these three tunes is mirrored in their release strategy. At least we will all get to see where this relationship is going before we demand any more of each other.

Fire, If We're Anything will be available on cassette and for digital download July 15. - No Fear of Pop

Brooklyn indie group, Oxen Free, have just released their debut EP, ‘Fire, If We’re Anything.’ It’s a collection of three tracks of unabashed guitar drenched indie rock. Their sound shares similarities to early Modest Mouse and Broken Social Scene it’s sense carefully controlled chaos as each of the tracks houses a warm indie pop track wrapped in fuzz, pounding drums and swirls of vocal harmonies. “Virginia Pine” is an exercise in dynamics, softly coying one minute before exploding into triumphant bursts the next. “Make Out” is a peppy love letter to whiskey, hook ups and all the finer parts of slowly getting older. “Signal Fire” closes the record as a three minute rallying call. Each of these tracks and the Oxen Free sound is very hugely epic in a humble way, and this EP is a great intro to the band. - Kick Kick Snare