West Coast Performer Review: Morning Spy's 2nd EP
West Coast Performer - Morning Spy is that San Francisco indie-rock band that reminds you of a band but you can't think which one. The Windows EP is one of three EP's released by the band to book shows. The three songs, "Slow Flood," "Vista" and "Accidental Stars" ultimately ended up on Morning Spy's 2004 full-length entitled Subsequent Light. What you get in this EP are three very ethereal, beautiful songs eloped with wistful singing and strong instrumentation.
Windows combines the poetic and soulful lyrics of lyricist Jon Rooney, the distorted guitar playing of Allison Goffman and James Spadaro, and the drumming of Mark Loftin. Vocals are bounced back between Rooney and Goffman.
Listeners can tell that this mini-masterpiece was well-produced and recorded professionally. Recorded in studios in Visalia and Oakland, Windows provides a sweet taste of Morning Spy's music. It evokes an overall good feeling and a sense of well-being just by listening. In the opening psychadelic song "Slow Flood," songwriter Jon Rooney sings "Hell is a very real place / filled with soul" which is somewhat profound and ambitious for a lyric coming from a band that formed in 2001 and has yet to tour outside of the San Francisco area.
Then there's the guitar-lengthy "Vista," which contains a swift guitar solo coming in at just under a minute. With very few lyrics, Goffman's graceful voice sings "don't let my smile go to sleep." The best thing about this track, is that it proves that Morning Spy know how to play thier instruments with zest. "Accidental Stars" is your melencholy romanticist love song.
"Windows" is a horrible name for an EP that is such a pleasure to listen to. But be warned, Windows has nothing to do with the bland operating system. From the start of “Slow Flood,” the opening bass line pulls you in, draws you in, making you wonder what those distant vocals are saying. The three songs flow together so coherently that you wonder where those ten minutes have gone.
Kathie Pomposo - April 2004