New Steam

The four-track digital-only EP from Roommate, the precursor to a Fall 2007 full-length, presents a different side to Kent Lambert, the multi-instrumentalist who generally plays the majority, if not all, the instruments for Roommate. On New Steam, Lambert records and arranges with a full (albeit eclectic) band, bringing an oftentimes organic sound to his configuration of electronic beeps and whirls. Strings and bassoon pave the way on the title cut, on which Lambert's ability to make simple lines ("I'd like to sleep tonight/I've been staring at the news for days") seem much more meaningful, with his use of space and double-tracking, is striking. But where he and the band really shine is on the two covers on the album, the brilliant 21st century neo-gothic campfire song "Until Then" (originally by Broadcast), complete with canjo, banjo, and tambourine, and the Red Red Meat track made über-indie electronic, "Quarter Horses (B-Slow)." It's an interesting move from Songs the Animals Taught Us, focusing more on chords and orchestral-like arrangements rather than computerized wanderings, and, at least in four tracks, promises for an interesting future.