New to Me: Other Lives, Mind the Gap [EP]

I finally got around to downloading Other Lives' latest offering, their four song EP titled, Mind the Gap, last week. The EP includes three new songs, "Take Us Alive", "Dead Can" and "Dust Bowl" and a version of "Tamer Animals" remixed by Atoms for Peace (Thom Yorke/Flea/Nigel Godrich), all for the cost of a coffee and doughnut.

Other Lives have been one of my favourite bands since I first heard their debut self-titled album, released in 2009, and this EP just helps drive that point home. In particular, the opener, "Take Us Alive", has all the winning ingredients that make their songs so endearing and unique - rich orchestration, dramatic percussion, lots of layers.

It's a mystery why I've waited so long to purchase Mind the Gap - my only guess is that I've been so wrapped up in Other Lives' last full length release, Tamer Animals, that I simply didn't expect there could be more. I'm glad the band has taken the time to put out a little something in advance of their next album, it's been a great addition to my collection and is already in heavy rotation on my playlists.

P.S. I've only had the chance to catch Other Lives in concert once and they sounded just as amazing live as they do on their recorded albums. I'd highly recommend taking in one of their live shows, if you ever get the chance.