Altsounds - Passion Pit - Chunk of Change [EP]

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Passion Pit - Chunk of Change [EP]

Let’s face it, Valentine’s Day is, as holidays go, particularly over-hyped, overrated and most importantly over-commercialized and over-marketed. I could go on, but this isn’t a review of February 14th, and anyway my point here is that despite the day being rather naff, it has now given the world something to truly love: Passion Pit’s ‘Chuck of Change’. Intended rather romantically (just why couldn’t he have done it any other day?) as a last minute Valentine’s Day present to Passion Pit’s singer/songwriter/all round main man Michael Angelakos’ girlfriend, ‘Chunk of Change’ is now his first gift to the whole world. And what a gift; I’m really rather smitten.

I am sure the lady in question must have been rather impressed; rather than Angelakos spending his dollop of dollar on a bunch of flowers, his decision to record ‘Chunk of Change’ for her instead was perhaps the most inspired he will ever make. She, and the many friends who heard afterwards, were so impressed that Angelakos was spurred into action and formed Passion Pit so that the perfectionist could take his songs and present them to the world.

The EP opens with the stunning electro pop of ‘I’ve Got Your Number’, a wonderfully versatile track, moving you as much physically as it does emotionally. It’s almost embarrassing to be hearing something so personal, intended at its time of conception for just one person. With the lyrics from the fantastic, emotionally charged chorus “Have you seen me cry tears like diamonds? Down and down they fly, faster and faster like the speed of our love batting a thousand but a home run crack at love, this is where I tell you that I know love's what I need to work at” about as honest a confession as you will hear.

I did wonder where things could go from here, after such a delightful opening salvo; surely it could only go downhill. Not a bit of it. ‘Smile Upon Me’ is high on LCD (Soundsystem), and the quirky fairy tale twist of ‘Cuddle Fuddle’, with the lyrics “Let down your hair, let down your hair, Rapunzel Rapunzel let down your hair” has another killer chorus. Nothing Grimm about that.

‘Live to Tell The Tale’ arrives wrapped in Postal Service vocals and spectral synth, mellowing out the EP before the arrival of ‘Better Things’ to cajole us back onto the dance floor with its disco delights. Final track ‘Sleepyhead’ is the only track that didn’t appear on the original gift to Angelakos’ girl, which was a shame for her as it’s a brilliant piece of electro pop (in the more traditional sense, as it’s the only track to come near the 3 minute mark – bang on it in fact). A euphoric techno synth and chipmunk backing vocals, supplement perhaps the most impassioned vocal from Angelakos since opener ‘I’ve Got Your Number’, book-ending the whole EP superbly well.

A full length debut is slated for early ’09, and how many of these tracks will feature remains to be seen, but if Passion Pit can reproduce or even better (somehow) what they have gifted us here, then 2009 could already have one of its highlights earmarked.

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