Indie stalwart James Mackison (The Florenteens, James and the Express) is back with his latest The Zesty Italians incarnation as he caresses the jangle-pop genre into the world of melodic twang with a guitar-pop charm that can never really be anything but his own.
Essentially, this Mocean on the Ocean EP is something of a veritable ‘twang festival, twisting the sound through varying interconnected musical nuances. As such, the opening title track marries twang to the superlative standout of Late Start to a sophisti-pop essence that should be conflicting but, in the hands of Mackison, works with endearing perfection.
Tracks such as Exasperated Signs, Valentine, and What’s Required course the twang through the more dulcet tones of the 90s indie with a sound reminiscent of acts such as Yo La Tengo and Pavement, albeit a gloriously paired downed aesthetic swathed in perfectly coiffeured under-production.
James Mackison has always done things with a panache that sidles up upon you rather than sneaks up at you with a big ‘boo’, and he remains one of the best around at understated guitar pop.
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