Mouse Deer - Mouse Deer EP

by Adrian Huggins

published: 28 / 1 / 2012

Label: Mouse Deer
Format: CDS

Uplifting indie pop on debut EP from Mouse Deer, the project of Bristol-based multi-instrumentalist Holly McIntosh

Review

Holly McIntosh, or Mouse Deer as she is also known as, hails from Bristol and in her own words produces 'lo-fi powerpop'. I'd say that is a most fair description of the noise that she's pedaling. 'Mouse Deer EP' is a five track offering which give us a glimpse into her own idyllic-sounding world and it seems quite a nice place to be. Or at least the soundtrack would make it worth while being there. Holly makes full use of her multi-instrumental talents, and this EP is not an EP that sounds like one person singing about their pretty little town, or anything too twee like that. For all intents and purposes Mouse Deer is a full band, complete with guitar, bass, drums and...eerrm...xylophones or something similarly chiming. This delightful EP is uplifting from start to finish. Well, maybe the final track 'Nothing' is a bit more dramatic, but nevertheless it's still got a beautiful warming glow to it. Opening track 'Foreground' is vaguely reminiscent of a tune that could almost be a Teenage Fanclub song if sung by a girl from the West of Britain rather than some shoegazeing Scottish types. There's a real innocence to the EP without any hint of naivity. Another highlight of the EP is 'The House That Never Sleeps' that comes complete with harmonies and more hooks than a fisherman's tackle bag, and sees a great juxtaposition of acoustic guitars set against simple drum machine loops. It definitely an air of Get Cape, Wear Cape, Fly. about it. In all honesty, however, there is not really a bad, dull or less than sweet moment across the five tracks on offer here.