First things first: no, I don’t know if you’re supposed to pronounce the “!” with a little pause.
Oh! The Manatee, according to the band, crystallized (or should I say, catalyzed) in a little cabin in Kentucky late last year. The Clifton quartet ran to the woods to write what would become “Catalyze,” their debut EP they claim represents many “sleepless nights crammed into a room full of instruments.”
The band’s first single, “Tailgate,” dropped in September of last year, setting a precedent for an indie aesthetic akin to the soft parts of Hop Along or Wednesday, albeit with a distinctly DIY edge. That notion falls away with the EP’s opener, “Halfway,” a lively rocker that crashes into the slower, doom-y distortion of “Crown.”
For five tracks and just seventeen minutes, “Catalyze” packs a surprising amount of variance.
Annabel Taylor’s vocals flitter between ethereal runs and barely-contained yells, and the aforementioned guitar work from Stephen Nagamalla makes every track feel fresh. Dylan Lopes’ percussion feels perfectly suited for each track, and coupled with chunky front-and-center bass riffs from Isaiah Poe interplaying with the melodies, the band comes together like a well-oiled machine for their debut project.
The standout track, undoubtedly, is “Ladybug Lady”, but not for the reason you think. Forest sounds accent thoughtful acoustic guitar and naked vocals in a sugary-sweet, Cavetown kinda way on this song – It will stick with you for its novelty even if it’s not explicitly *your* thing. For a collection of music featuring something resembling doom metal just two tracks ago, I’m surprised too.
In short, Oh! The Manatee has a lot of promise in this scene. “Catalyze” shows more than raw strength, but versatility, restraint, and a solidified artistic direction carrying them toward a full-length project. I’m excited for the first big release from this band, and I hope you are too.
…Also, manatees are mammals, right?
You can listen to their music wherever you stream, and catch them around town at your favorite indie haunt.
You can find last week’s feature on Mall Witch here. Leave a comment on our Instagram or email me at ebloomfield@linknky.com with your suggestions for next week’s local band highlight!
