This debut EP from Superfood really is a long-awaited pleasure. Just over a year ago, Superfood were being seriously hyped up by the lucky few who saw them live and by fellow Birmingham bands and mates Swim Deep and Jaws before they’d even put any kind of music online. Not even a demo, squat. So, when a few months later, Superfood debuted their eponymous track onto Soundcloud it was received incredibly well. And why wouldn’t it be? It’s a tune. Unfortunately for us, it didn’t make it onto the EP.
Moving onto MAM, a year on from the release of ‘Superfood’ and this EP really is damn fine. Full to burst with subtle but excellent tunes that you’ll be singing all day, I promise you. Superfood have some kind of master talent to make a really simple tune into a full blown, super indie-pop song. The first track ‘TV’ is their most recent single, being officially released onto their new VEVO channel, with the original demo being taken off Soundcloud. Sneaky, but the video is excellent. Dom Ganderton’s loud vocals are what makes this track special. His shouts of “I can never sleep without the TV on”, topped off with genuine wailing of nonsense syllables later on in the track, gives the impression of a not very serious song and, although they may not be lyrical geniuses, Superfood are excellent musicians.
The next track is Superfood’s previous single ‘Bubbles’. It immediately kicks in with a ruthless guitar riff and, when Emily Baker’s bass is added, it’s unstoppable and easily the best track on the EP. The subtle changes of tempo mould all the different sections of the song perfectly together, and that’s what makes it so gripping and exciting each time you listen to it.
‘Bubbles’ is followed by its B side, ‘Melting’; this song sounds like an ever so slightly more relaxed version of ‘Bubbles’. It’s got less vigour but it feels right. The upbeat guitar melodies and breaks make me want to go on a brisk walk through the park and take a seat and feed the ducks during the beautiful and relaxing bridge section. Dom Ganderton shows off his versatile voice in this part of the song – a real contrast to the screams in ‘TV’.
Brand new track – ‘Houses On The Plain’ – closes the EP, really embellishing the Brit-pop influences and comparisons they’ve been given in the past. As Ganderton’s vocals are filtered out, it brings back some nostalgic feelings to old demo tapes and ’90s sounds. And truly the best part about it is the distorted, screechy effect of Ganderton’s shouts – I really would compare this to Pixies, though no one should ever be compared to Black Francis because he’d get the gold medal in versatile voices any day (sorry, still in Olympics mode).
In short, this EP really shows you what Superfood are about, and that’s what you want from a debut release. Despite being in the shadow of their B-town mates, Superfood should have no problem breaking out into the limelight.
Elli Brazzill
