The Maple State - Joanna / Wood & Rain (High Voltage)
4/5
By: Matt Tomiak
This double A-side single has an average track length of almost exactly 3 and half minutes: this is, as scientists will surely one day prove beyond any reasonable doubt, the perfect length for any pop song. And sure enough, The Maple State know their way around a proper tune alright.
Like fellow transatlantic sounding Mancunians Polytechnic, TMS might hail from the northwest corner of England but they take the majority of their musical cues from the other side of the pond. 'Joanna' marries janglesome Pavement guitars, sugary 'ba-ba-bas' and a cute, plinky keyboard line akin to the grown-up emo stylings of Jimmy Eat World and Death Cab For Cutie and mildly resigned lyrics about unrequited affections and 'waiting for the quiet life that never comes', delivered in a endearingly broad northern burr by singer Greg Counsell.
Flip side 'Wood and Rain', meanwhile, is pleasantly reminiscent of the sparkly pep of youthful Delaware bards The Spinto Band, replete with that quintessentially indie introspection and insecurity. Highly promising.
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