I Don't Hear A Single Top 20 EPs Of 2023

 


2023 is brought to a close with The Top 20 EPs Of The Year. There may be more 2023 releases covered in the early part of 2024, but as for the ramped up Social Media and Countdowns, they all end here. For each EP a song is embedded from the release and a link is provided to the IDHAS Review where you can find further details and how to listen or buy the EP.

1 Svenssen - Falling Out Of Fashion     IDHAS REVIEW

2 Half Catholic - Art In Heaven     IDHAS REVIEW

3 The Chase - Bonzo Bonanza     IDHAS REVIEW

4 Pretty - Citrus Magic    IDHAS REVIEW

5 Jonesy - Doppelgangbangers    IDHAS REVIEW

6 Leon In The Wild - Leon In The Wild     IDHAS REVIEW

7 Movie Jail - Movie Jail   IDHAS REVIEW

8 Råttanson - Trebled Region     IDHAS REVIEW

9 The Popguns - Popism     IDHAS REVIEW

10 Bitter Defeat - Terrific Effort    IDHAS REVIEW

11 Fuzziliers - Would You Believe     IDHAS REVIEW

12 Mansfield - Come Rain Or Shine     IDHAS REVIEW

13 The Vapour Trails - On A Beautiful Day     IDHAS REVIEW

14 Gizmo - Buddy System    IDHAS REVIEW

15 Finn's Motel - Last Year's Leaves      IDHAS REVIEW

16 Rick Kingo - The Truths, The Lies, The Lot    IDHAS REVIEW

17 Dennis Davison - Creaturefeature       IDHAS REVIEW

18 Carl Green In Particular - Off Balance       IDHAS REVIEW

19 Shangri-Lass - Over & Over      IDHAS REVIEW

20 Modern Rituals - Razed      IDHAS REVIEW

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Mansfield - Come Rain Or Shine EP

 

Mansfield are from Denmark and so they will naturally be compared to Caper Clowns. They are musical friends and have shared the stage together, but there are slight differences in what they do. Both are Melodic Pop led and vocally they are not a million miles away from each other vocally.

But, as this EP demonstrates, Mansfield have a more 60s Pop slant, heading much more into Psych Pop. Where as Caper Clowns are more than a little in Crowded House territory, Mansfield have more in common with the great 60s UK Beat Bop and 70s Pop Rock giants.

The arrangements are superb, big sounding studio numbers that add some wonderful Brass accompaniment. Chasing After You is real UK Jangle Beat of the highest order. You can just imagine them on Ready Steady Go. It is a splendid nostalgic affair.

The Sky's In Love With You is like one of those big Tony Hatch numbers, it is really funky on the verse, with a massive chorus hook that is enhanced by the Brass. The Nature Of A Troubled Mind is a slightly darker affair. instrumentally it is part Psych Pop, part early Fleetwood Mac, yet vocally, it is engagingly moody.

London Riots is a strange thing for a Danish band to be singing about, but it may very well be the best thing here. The chorus is all happy clappy Indie Pop and the verse has that Bacharach Brass again. It mixes 60s Carnaby Street with something nearer 90s Pop Rock. 

You can listen to and buy the EP here. You can also listen to the whole thing here as well as a lot of the band's back catalogue. You can find out more about the band here, 

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