aaamusic | On 23, Jan 2011

This ‘Flamingos’/’Thrill Seeking’ double A-side – to be released on January 24^th through Feraltone Records – exudes such brash confidence that it seems ridiculous that it could be the product of a musical trio just one year old.

Evryone, who formed just over 12 months ago after happening across each other on a bus journey, are a British piano-led indie-pop band. Up until the last couple of years contemporary piano-centered rock has tended to sound either like Coldplay and Keane, or like Ben Folds. Recently, the pomp of Queen and early Elton John have started to infiltrate the indie-pop scene (e.g. Foxy Shazam, Stars and Sons), and it’s clear that Evryone have been drawn to this kind of theatrical, piano-driven rock rather than the more straight-ahead, pop formula of bands like Keane and The Fray. But don’t get me wrong, Evryone are unashamedly pop.

‘Flamingos’ is the stronger of the two tracks available here. It starts of sounding like some kind of drunken bar song, incorporating the waltzy, baroque influence of pop acts like Fiona Apple. The off-kilter nature of the drums and bass finally give way to a charming little breakdown of tinkering piano and a building bass line (reminiscent of fellow piano-rockers Cold War Kids) before soaring into a climax bursting with crashing symbols and impassioned vocals.

‘Thrill Seeking’ isn’t quite so chirpy, but the musicianship is just as tight, and the production just as glossy. This second track has more of an indie-ballad vibe, with hints of Grizzly Bear and Wild Beasts poking through the piano pop. Shame the melody isn’t quite as strong as ‘Flamingos.’

Although Banner’s drumming is solid, and Bovill’s booming bass injects some much-appreciated bite into proceedings, it’s Andrew’s vocals that mark out Evryone as such a promising prospect. He has range and soul, and his vocal harmonies (and all the oohing) encompass all the best parts of TV On The Radio’s Tunnde Adebimpe and Empire Of The Sun’s Luke Steele. If you like your indie laced with piano pop and sprinkled with eccentricity, then these young upstarts should be placed firmly on your radar for 2011.

Author: Clive Rozario