EP Review: K M T P – P.S. C U Soon (Sunreturn)

On this debut EP, K M T P delivers simple songs as comfort food for the soul. Of a young person raised in the rural heartland, and wondering how to fit into a city. A coming of age.

Keria Paterson, on this break-out project, plays all the instruments and produces themselves, with a little help on finishing from Jonathan Pearce of the Beths.

Home is sung in a fragile, Folk manner. Peaceful, sentimental and in its quiet way captures a unique aspect of Auckland. This is our only big city, but it is surrounded by a stunning and unique natural landscape. And it’s well within an hour’s bus ride.

So lonely out here in the middle of nowhere/ So used to the city lights/ But out here it’s paradise. You can have it both ways. Wild Westie Country.

Smile and Wave has a simple acoustic guitar rhythm drone and an expressive and melodic vocal. Piano, probably keyboards and solid drumming provide good support. As the singer asks, Are you okay?

Moving Along is acoustic guitar mostly, and quietly desperate. Please do not try to comfort me. Clever, yin and yang, anima and animus. The voice has some of the cracking and vulnerability of Neil Young.

Acting Out has a nice droning melody with good drum support. The voice becomes more sure-footed and Folk-Pop. An overtone of electric guitar is added. The evocation is of the Beach Boys in their Wild Honey/Friends period when they were looking for peace and Hippie salvation amongst the maelstrom and charged energy of 1968 America. Charles Manson was lobbying for the sixth Beach Boy role.

I Love My Friends has backward tape effects, birds, and nice strummed guitar and piano. We are back to the simplicity of the opening track. A dream-like reverie and the weather is straight ahead bright and sunny.  I like my friends/They get me through the day.

This is a Recorded Message is spoken voice. Trying to connect with a love interest and ultimately very funny. Surrounded by a melancholy sparse and shimmering melody.

Quiet, personal and heart-felt songwriting matched to carefully constructed music with lots of space to breathe. Informed by an off-beat sense of humour. Home is a student hostel, a cramped apartment, or the lonely paradise a bus trip away.

Rev Orange Peel