Single Review: Baked – II EP

Exploding In Sound Records have announced they will release Brooklyn quartet Baked’s latest release, the II EP, that is due out on August 24th via the EIS Tape Club, II is the band’s fourth release and it marks the band’s second EP, a release that gives them a chance for them to try new things and push their songwriting with a new collaborative process. II follows up on their 2017 full length, Farnham, a release that made a distinct impression of me and was one of my favourite album’s from last year, what I loved about Baked‘s previous release what the fact that it was unpredictable and uncategorisable, something that is a difficult trick to pull off twice.

Thus Far Been offers a low key lo-fi opener that resembles a cross between psychedelia and dark country that was recorded the morning after the night before, following this Hope You’re Happy kicks into a off kilter indie punk vibe that sits somewhere between The Breeders and Magnapop. To keep you off balance Coma has the feel of a track the Brian Wilson might have recorded in his indoor sandpit during his wilderness years and the penultimate track, Good For You, cements that feeling that this is an EP that is heavily influenced by the dark side of psychedelia. II‘s final track, A Hartlett Anthem, is the only track that harks back to the sound of Farnham, as such it’s gloriously fuzzy stoner anthem that is the perfect end to Baked‘s latest release.

II is an EP that I would normally say is unexpected but as this is Baked then to quote a cliche, you learn to expect the unexpected. II is the product of a band trying new collaborations and styles, and I’m never one to discourage a band from treading new ground as with a few noble exceptions, including their New York brethren Ramones, I don’t like to hear a band sticking to a formula. Whilst II isn’t as immediate as Farnham it’s a release that confirms that Baked are no one trick pony, they remain as independent and unpredictable as ever and I wouldn’t have them any other way.

The II EP can be pre-ordered via the EIS Tape Club here and via Bandcamp here