Ave
Follow your saint
self-released
Although I'm getting kinda sick of groups influenced by Radiohead or other leading Britpoppers, the Danish indierock band Ave add just enough sparkle and energy to that oh-so-familiar sound to hold your interest. Vocalist Dennis Winterskov has Thom Yorke's style down pat, but for the most part, he avoids outright impersonation. Of course there's the high-register, emotive singing, dramatic shifts from quiet to loud playing and multi-layered production you expect from this genre. But some nicely rendered synth passages and an occasional trumpet flourish (also played by Winterskov) liven up the six tunes on this EP. The mastering results in a clean, crisp sound throughout, and you get the sense Ave have lofty ambitions. It's all fairly pleasant, just a little too familiar at times...something I hope Ave will work to change.
- Kevin Renick