This quick little EP consists of two dreamy folk tunes bookending two indie rock efforts with at least four little piggies in the power pop pool. It’s the good old Neil Young/ Soul Asylum/Paul Westerberg sandwich.
The EP is at its best when the instrumentation is allowed to get a little lush. The moments of Pink Floyd harmonies in the bridge of “There’s a Light” provide a satisfying lift above the song’s otherwise standard folkness. “Hate” and “Ole’” both feature playful, almost spastic at times, arrangements. The straightforward and earnest “Universe Light Years” is a pleasant little piano song to round out the EP.
Lyrically, the songs certainly take you to the deep side of the sink. Erik Voeks is not afraid to confront grand and intangible issues. From estoteric ponderings on time and logic (from “Universe Light Years” - “Infinity can fill you full of phobias and fears /So I understand if you need a god /I understand if you need a drink.”) to the age-old realizing you may have grown into a person you didn’t want to be (From “There’s a Light” - “Do you recognize the face of the asshole /That you swore you'd never be? /Now it's everything you see /when you look into the mirror. /Are you whole? Or was that your goal?”), Voeks challenges the listener to endure self-reflection. These are the words of thinking-man’s music.
Personally, I think he says it best in the line that produces the EP title. From Ole’ – “You're gonna die right there /in your easy chair /But you'll be safe from change /Did you know that you were born free range?”
Voeks is currently celebrating the vinyl release of the Free Range EP with three shows in Spain this week. The album is being released on Spring Records.
--Zach Hodson
| Zach Hodson is a monster. He once stole a grilled cheese sandwich from a 4-year-old girl at her birthday party. He will only juggle if you pay him. I hear he punched Slimer right in his fat, green face. He knows the secrets to free energy, but refuses to release them until "Saved by the Bell: Fortysomethings" begins production.
He is also in Dolls on Fire and Drew Black & Dirty Electric, as well as contributing to various other Kansas City-based music, comedy, and art projects.
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