Love of Diagrams
Self Titled EP
Matador Records

If Love of Diagram’s self titled EP feels more like a sampler than an official short player, it’s probably because it is.

Revolving around one preview track from their up coming full length, Mosaic, the EP assembles material recorded between 2004 and 2006, including a live cover of Pylon’s ‘Cool’, one unreleased track, and their 2005 single ‘No Way Out’ (which was featured on teenage soap the O.C. in December of that year). Despite their varied origins, all four tracks blend together quite well.

The Australian band’s dancey post-punk sound is best exemplified in the bookend tracks, ‘Peace or the Patience’ and ‘No Way Out’. The preview track from Mosaic, ‘Peace or the Patience’ is a sharp, angular no-wave song that shows off the vocal play between bassist Antonia Sellbach and guitarist Luke Horton. Like much of Love of Diagrams’ music, it consists mainly of one driving bass rhythm and grows progressively more intense and noisy as the track goes on. At the other end of the EP, ‘No Way Out’ is the most accessible offering with its immediately aggressive guitar strumming and relentless pace. Sellbach’s atonal shouts during the chorus fit perfectly with the angst and energy of the song.

It Love of Diagrams are looking to make their dent in the American independent scene come Spring, this limited edition EP is a good step in the right direction. The production pays homage to the original recordings of the 1970s and 80s and the songs themselves sparkle and shine while avoiding any of that faux-sex attitude that plagues many of today’s female fronted post-punk bands.

[mp3] Love of Diagrams - No Way Out
[buy] Love of Diagrams - Self Titled EP @ Amazon.com

[stream] Love of Diagrams on Myspace