10. The Klittens – Butter
“Butter is a fantastic EP that blends together different styles and moods to deliver a listening experience that’s memorable, catchy, and absolutely ready to be consumed over and over again. It’s probably the most exciting, enriching butter you could find. Even more than salted butter.
As jovial and bright as it sounds, there’s an underlying darkness to it that makes you want to explore further. This is probably highlighted best in the freefall of ‘Traffic Light’. The Klittens add just enough subtle references that create a sense of mysteriousness that catches your attention and makes you wish to go back for more.”
09. May Payne – High Demand
May Payne’s sophomore EP took us by surprise. Its blend of folk and emo created a sound that came with tons of grit and emotion, even if its quietest moments. That pairing of fragility with heavy instrumentals really showed how well the two genres go together, and that’s all done to May’s excellent songwriting abilities. It came late but was immediately one of our favourites upon first listen.
08. Alexandra Leaving – An Exorcise in Anger
“As you can probably tell, I really like this EP. An Exorcise in Anger is great. It feels like an assured and complete record. Offering a listen that’s full of great tracks and loads of explosive, hard-hitting moments. It is unhinged and unstable in parts that keeps it unpredictable but comes with lyrics that feel like they’ve been reflected on. Anger is a sword held in a hand that hurts but is a powerful tool to have when you don’t allow it to be swung right away, and this EP feels like a big swing.”
07. Ellie Bleach – Now Leaving West Feldwood
The first of many local artists to land on our radar this year, Ellie Bleach left a big impression thanks to her new EP, Now Leaving West Feldwood. With its Americana sound and old-school, almost-Western style, the EP has a very individual presence. It’s catchy, classy and comes with tons of personality, which is how it became so ingrained in our minds.
As good as the recordings are, the EP sounds even better live. You can appreciate how well structured and layered the songs are. Making them even more memorable then they already are.
06. PleasureInc. – Plastic People EP
“Plastic People is a fantastic EP. I don’t think I’ve had as much fun listening to something as much as this. Pleasureinc. do a great job at simply being themselves and letting their sound do the convincing. It is beyond catchy and full of witty, fast-flowing lyricism alongside all the best moments from whatever genre you enjoyed from the last couple decades. What more could you want?!”
05. Gabriela Eva – Recovery
Another artist representing Essex and becoming one of our new favourites is Gabriela Eva. Her new EP Recovery is arguably the most honest we’ve heard this year, and we found ourselves returning to it many times.
Written with a myriad of emotions and memories swirling around the pool of mental health, Recovery is an honest, open book of a listen. Each song illustrates Gabriela’s journey with mental health, and combines refreshing lyricism with instrumentals that are pure and wondrous. Making it easy to fall into and connect to. It’s also filled with many highlights musically that transform it into an all-encompassing piece of art.
04. CABL – See You In a Year and a Half
One of the very first releases of the year and one of the best. CABL’s debut EP is a success in how to deliver something that’s gritty but brilliant. The Dublin band broke out of the crowd in part to the title track, with its steady rhythm against haunting guitars, that soon explode into mammoth riffs. It’s mesmerising, and this sound continues throughout the EP.
The Irish music scene really became a force of nature this year, with lots of great bands demanding attention. Not many stood out quite as much as CABL, who even this many months later, continued to outpace loads of releases.
03. swim school – Seeing It Now
“On their new mixtape EP Seeing It Now, the band have released something that reflects back while still moving forward. Bringing with it new songs and new versions of fan favourites to really showcase how far the trio have come.
From the roaring lick of the title track, Seeing It Now wastes little time in making itself known. Complete with their trademark room-filling guitars, thunderous percussion, and the haunting nature of Alice Johnson’s vocals, this feels like the work of a band who are fully confident in their abilities to get your attention and lead us into some of their best material yet.”
02. Half Happy – Conversation Killer
Just like Ireland, Cardiff also experienced a burgeoning music scene this year. One EP in particular that caught our focus was Half Happy’s debut EP, Conversation Killer. The introduction is an insightful look at manoeuvring the quirks of life. How we’re supposed to be experts in conversation from birth, and be able to navigate multiple social constructs with ease.
As somebody who can barely form small talk at the best of times, it was easy to relate to this, but it’s sound is also inviting. Delivering a wide range of melodies and hooks within a Dream Pop world that you don’t wanna come out of. “Bloom” made it onto our Favourite Singles Of 2024, but across the EP there are tracks we find ourselves returning to. Whether it’s the grungy guitars on “Well Done Honey” or the uneasy steps of “Sorry”, Conversation Killer is such a well-rounded EP that it has something for everyone.
01. Sunflower Thieves – Same Blood
Considering how much we featured these two, it’s probably no surprise that the top spot for Favourite EP 2024 goes to Sunflower Thieves. We have been enamoured with their sound since they started back in 2018, and it’s been great to witness their evolution over the years.
Following Someone To Be There For was always going to be a hard task but the duo succeeded in not only doing that, but taking us on a new journey as they explored a newer sound that utilised their harmonies in a colder setting. Allowing electronics and heavier song topics to influence their style.
“Same Blood is an EP rooted in sisterhood from two childhood friends navigating the emotional turmoil of life. You are instantly taken by the intimate production and the closeness of the vocals. Dreamy, beautiful and bittersweet, Sunflower Thieves will have you listening over and over again.”