Review: Origami Angel - re: turn vs. DEPART (EPs)

Label: Counter Intuitive Records

It may be a simple idea to release two entirely different toned EPs over the span of a few days, but I still like the intention. First and foremost it needs the right band to pull it off and really, ORIGAMI ANGEL could've been voted to be so. They proved their hilarious versatility on last year's instant classic "GAMI GANG" and then some...

"re: turn" focusses on the quiet, melancholic site of the band. They go acoustic, with shades of Folk and Americana, but essentially it's no revolution to their sound. You got bits of this on earlier recordings and it feels right in the context of an ORIGAMI ANGEL-record. I could imagine them playing something similar in the years to come when they get old and boring. The thing with the "no revolution" is, that these three tracks rather feel like "ORIGAMI ANGEL unplugged" than something completely new. The songs are still pretty fast and lively. It's no campfire snoozefest to cry your heart out to. Something like "Greenbelt Station" from the last album was way softer and more quiet. With that being said, I really like what I'm hearing! 

"DEPART" on the other hand is more surprising as it's ORIGAMI ANGEL going nuts for three straight songs á 5 minutes. They loved their spazz-y, out-of-place breakdowns on "GAMI GANG", but here it's more like a straight, serious version of metallic Hardcore or Mathcore. They take their cues from 90s Hardcore or even NYHC, and also remind me of SOUL GLO a lot. It's surprisingly competent and well done, but while "re: turn" feels naturally, "DEPART" feels more staged and conceptual. It's nice for a one-off, but I wouldn't like a whole album of this kind of stuff, at least not under the ORIGAMI ANGEL-moniker. There's massive potential there, no doubt. Opener "Judge" is a neckbreaker and the flow from one track to another is pretty impressive, but it's too far off from what these guys where doing in the past.

Stream/Download "re: turn"
Stream/Download "DEPART"
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