Trauma Pet- 1 EP

ARTIST: Trauma Pet
ALBUM: 1 (Single)
LABEL: Line Out Records
REVIEWER: Matthew J.
DATE: 1-2-08

Trauma Pet's latest single continues the British trio's stylistic drift toward more rock-oriented material. Title track "1" retains the gorgeous vocal harmonies, but lead singer Elie's voice is rawer, edgier, in keeping with the new emphasis on squealing rock guitar over slick synthesizer. "Love the Abuse" is moodier, with tinkling synths sharing the spotlight with the mournful wail of goth rock guitar. For fans of more dance-oriented material, a pair of remixes rounds out the single; both Seize's "Animal Mix" of "Controlled Hysteria" and XP8's mix of "The Darkness Inside" offer slick beats and hard-driving trance leads sure to guarantee plenty of club play. A bonus video for the title track is a rather muddled experience, interesting in spite of (or perhaps because of) its more amateurish moments, and overall this single provides a nice bridge between Trauma Pet's earlier synthpop phase and their newer, more rock-influenced sound.

Visit www.trauma-pet.com for more information.