EP Review: Easy Life—’see you later maybe never (demos)’
Posted: by The Editor
UK’s Easy Life have been around since 2017, but they didn’t come across my radar until last year with the release of “Sangria,” a Mac Miller meets early Glass Animals track featuring the airy voice of Arlo Parks. Driven by a sultry hip-hop beat, the song is flush with jazzy guitar licks and was later found on their most recent EP, Junk Food, out Jan. 2020 via Island Records. The band’s latest release, a pair of demo tracks titled “see you later maybe never” continues to showcase Easy Life’s knack for melding jazz, funk, and pop sensibilities.
The first track, “peanut butter” opens with frontman Murray Matravers’ crisp vocals backed by a simple synthy keyboard and drum beat combo that warms you up before the even warmer pre-chorus. The entire band joins in at that point, creating a mid-tempo, sun-filled track. Easy Life leans more towards jazz with its trumpet flares, but has a buttoned-up psychedelic tinge.
On the other hand, “petty crime” infuses hip-hop elements right out the gate with its driving bassline and kickdrum. The verses flow more freely together, reminiscent of poetry. They keep it weird, though, ending the track with space-like sounds effects.
Together, they are a pair of songs that work well in either a smokey club atmosphere or a sunny outdoor concert. Easy Life created see you later maybe never during quarantine and the patched-together music videos effectively capture the songs’ multi-layered eccentricities.
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Jordan Snowden | @snowden_jordan
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