It’s hard to get excited about an EP that consists of barely any new songs, but luckily Grizzly Bear have managed to make Friend a worthwhile prospect. Zach Condon’s much-hyped contribution to opener Alligator is imperceptible, but the song doesn’t need any extra help. The hushed harmonies and explosive crunches of percussion on this version make it the equal of anything on Yellow House. The new Little Brother takes the brave step of becoming more haunting. The shift in aesthetic brings a new focus to the lyrics, and confers a certain gravity that wasn’t there in the original. The cover of He Hit Me by The Crystals is brimming with tension, but it’s the other bands covering the Grizzlies that will attract most neutrals. CSS’s version of Knife manages to strip away all the emotion of the original, leaving a disaffected synth-rock carcass. Atlas Sound acquit themselves better with their clockwork-and-reverb version, and Band of Horses’ hillbilly Plans is just bizarre enough to work. It may seem all filler on paper, but one band’s trash is another’s gold. Grizzly Bear’s bin makes for good listening.

Brendan McGuirk is the editor of Analogue, and former Chair of Trinity FM.
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