My Project: Blue

My Project: Blue keeps the string of excellent pop bands from Vancouver alive. Their debut on Boompa is a five-song gem produced by the Salteens' Scott Walker with a light touch and an adventurous ear. He and the band create a hermetically sealed retro pop world of creaky old synths, pianos, organs, bells, and perfect layers of electric and acoustic guitars, then plug in catchy and gently energetic tunes like "Messed Up in the Heart," "Control of Me," and "These Re-Occuring Nightmares" coming up with some very fine indie pop in the process. When the band tries something a bit different like "The Boy Who Wore Red," a Bowie-esque space ballad that cleverly juxtaposes synths and clarinets and gives full rein to singer Chad Blue's endearing vocal eccentricities, they are just as good. The only minor misstep is the gloomy (but still good) "Consume," which closes the EP on a somber note. The band does perky and sweet so well, one wishes they didn't feel the need to work blue. Still, it does show another dimension to the group that could come in handy when they record a full-length album. Keep an eye out for that album because if it's as good as this EP, it will be darn good indeed.