Beams: "The Gutter & The Glass" (EP review)

Toronto folk-rock outfit Beams made a strong impression on me with their debut full length album Just Rivers.  Now they've returned with two new songs in the form of the 'EP' (that may be a stretch) The Gutter & The Glass.

The lead track, "The Way We Run", boasts all of the elements that made the first Beams album so special.  It's bouncy and melodic, firmly rooted in the earthiness of folk music, but featuring a dark undertone that bubbles beneath the surface.

The flip side, "Black Shadows" features a falsetto harmony and more angular guitars, but doesn't sacrifice very much of the roots foundation.  In some sense, it almost sounds like an Americana version of Siouxsie & The Banshees.

In all, this is a nice little (too little) piece to tide us over until the next release.

Beams play the Horseshoe Tavern in Toronto on January 29th.

Track listing for The Gutter & The Glass:

• The Way We Run
• Black Shadow