RIYL: Sufjan Stevens, Cloud Castle Lake, Wooden Arms, Dear Desert

Label: Cross Key Records

Just over two years ago we were diggin’ around and happened across Plastic Mermaids over here at Sly. They had just begun what has now amounted to a trilogy of EPs when we posted Drømtorp up for all of you to discover. Pushing roughly a year ahead, our very own sly fox David Hampton grabbed Part II, entitled Inhale the Universe, giving it love in that classic Dave fashion. Now, here we are with the third and final installment, Everything is Yellow and Yellow is my Least Favourite Colour!!

With four tracks in total, this EP packs one hell of a punch. Sweeping chamber-pop arrangements swell around the exposed vocals. Similar to a Sufjan Stevens’ recording, this record gives the listener that feeling of vulnerability and opens the realm of emotional acceptance through a feeling of reminiscence. It’s a rare and beautiful thing to find any vocalist who can synchronize well enough with his band to allow such an escape through sound.

”The Isle of Wight band fashion chamber-pop majesty that sounds somehow effortless and preordained.“ – Sunday Times Culture “Plastic Mermaids win me over from the start…the tones are all just right – there’s something very classic about this.“– The FADER

The Details

Hailing from the Isle of Wight, Plastic Mermaids are a timely example of a young British guitar band that sound both fresh and exciting without losing that crucial appetite for melody. With an expansive palette for progressive sounds, Plastic Mermaids conjure up the chug and groove of a Three EPs era Beta Band, the leftfield, warped pop hooks of Clinic, and the colour and joy of fellow Brits, Glass Animals. Ultimately, it hints at a modern day Brian Wilson with a band all on the same sonic page, and it’s as exquisite as that suggests. Alaska is another scintillating example of Plastic Mermaids at their beguiling best, harnessing all that warmth and those textures into one off-kilter four-and-a-half minute psych-pop splash. The five piece also place emphasis on their eye catching stage production too, which involves handmade sets and laser displays.. “It’s something we want to work on further,” explains vocalist Douglas Richards. “You can really change the way people perceive music by what they see while they hear it. I like the idea of doing a gig one day that’s equally about sound and visuals. And maybe smell.” ‘Everything Is Yellow And Yellow Is My Least Favourite Colour’ is the third in a trilogy of EP releases by the band, and features four tracks: Paris Milkshake, Alaska, Painted Lady, and Beyond The Cosmos After Death. It is self-produced. Plastic Mermaids are: Douglas Richards (vocals, piano), Jamie Richards (guitar, drum machine, samples, vocals), Chris Newnham (guitar), Tom Farren (bass) and Chris Jones (drums).

Additional Images

Thanks to Joss Crowley for the tip!

Price $16