EP REVIEW: Trial Tapes - 5 Notes

Liverpool-based Indie-Rock band Trial Tapes, fronted by vocalist and songwriter Jack McNally, create a striking first impression with their debut EP, 5 Notes, a five-track collection that introduces them as an exciting new act. The EP blends warped guitars, shimmering synth textures, and candid lyricism written from a queer lens that captures both intimacy and intensity, while also offering a sound that is distinctive within modern Indie.

The opening track, Slowpoke, eases in the listener with soft vocals layered over gentle guitar chords, recalling the charms of early 2000s Indie classics. This reflective mood is continued in the following track 42, building on the same atmosphere to establish a reflective, slow-burn. The centerpiece of the record is the band's debut single Coughing Fits, available already on all streaming platforms, which explores the artist's journey with queer identity in a raw and honest way.

The closing pair, Leopard Print Skulls and Sliding, lean further into distortion and harsher guitar sounds that highlight the diversity of Trial Tapes’ sound, balancing moments of softness with bursts of abrasion and developing a multifaceted soundscape within just 5 tracks.

5 Notes is brief yet remarkably cohesive, mixing nostalgic Indie-Rock and synth textures with vulnerable lyrics that allow the band to be candid, vulnerable, and bold. Trial Tapes have delivered an incredible introduction with this debut record that promises greater things to come in their future.