EP Review: Marine Life “Fool of a Kind”

Posted on October 20, 2014

by Tom Emanuel

Much of what you need to know about San Francisco indie popsters Marine Life can be gleaned from the fact that they’re labelmates with Camera Obscura and a quick glance at the cover to their debut EP, Fool of a Kind (2014). Like those venerable Glaswegian popsmiths, Marine Life hail from a place known for its oft-grey skies; but while we could certainly use more rain here in the Bay lately, Marine Life are a ray of sunshine that won’t exacerbate the ongoing drought.

Elefant’s description of the lead-off title track as “one of those things that makes you happy to get out of bed in the morning, no matter what day of the week it is” might seem like standard-issue label hyperbole; but faced with Des de Leon’s sighing harmonies and bouncy brass, it’s hard to argue with the PR guys. “Big Sur” continues in the same sunny vein, with appropriately surf-rock organs and handclaps. “Boy from B-612″ switches things up with its spacy synthesizer and lyrics inspired by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry‘s The Little Prince, but we’re back to driving, horn-laced 60s pop with closer “For the Camera Shy.” With Fool of a Kind, Marine Life have crafted a gem that, if it doesn’t have the literate wistfulness of the band’s esteemed labelmates, has all the indie pop infectiousness.

8/10

Listen here. Buy it here.