The Mayfair Set - Young One EP (2009) [Captured Tracks] // Grade: A

The Mayfair Set is a collaboration between Mike Sniper, the man behind Blank Dogs and Kristin Gundred, The woman behind Dum Dum Girls that up until now has only spawned a single 7″ released earlier this year. This is as close as you can get to Lo-Fi supergroup (if you can even apply that term to a two-man lo-fi or a two-man band). While these sorts of alliances in any scene (large or small) usually tend to give way to a lot of back patting and tepid results, that is not the case here. For you see The Mayfair Set’s sum is much greater than it’s already excellent parts.

While Both Blank Dogs and Dum Dum Girls put out some great and ambitious 7″, EPs and albums this year in their own-right… the interplay between Sniper and Gundred on a record is bar-none. The two perfectly play off one another’s strengths, be it the way Sniper’s fuzzy instrumentation make’s Gundred’s Twee and 60s Girl-Group vocal tendencies seem that much dreamier, or how Gundred’s voice and melody can so easily pronounce the casual pop structure in even the most deconstructed, layered and battered of Sniper’s Shitgaze stews. And when the two sing on a track together, it’s game-over. Be it in a backing role (“I’ve Been Watching You”) or as a proper duet (“Dark House”) Sniper’s heavily processed croons paired to Gundred’s confident and captivating voice are in perfect contrast in creating some of the most haunting pop you’ll ever hear. Just from their singular output this year it should come as little surprise that these two utilize the strengths of Lo-fi production like no one else in conveying mood and tone. And as a result Young One plays out like sepia-tinged dream of  love letters and closeted skeletons in a dusky attic.

I know for the casual fan the burgeoning Lo-Fi scene’s endless stream of releases and taste for occasional releasing material on outdated formats is a bit intimidating. And if my endless stream of reviews hasn’t peaked your interest to check it out even just a few of the releases then at the very least give Young One a shot. If I had to choose one release so far this year that not only an easy pill to swallow, but also encapsulates all that is great about the sound and scene, this would be it.

- My Pal the Crook