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Dec 31, 2015 Web Exclusive By Marty Hill

The first of a series of collaborations on the excellent Mexican Summer label, Myths 001 brings together the charmingly sleazy alt-pop of one Connan Mockasin and Devonté Hynes’ infectious charisma. Hynes’ cut his songwriting teeth writing all-out bangers for the likes of Carly Rae Jepsen and Florence and the Machine, whereas Mockasin’s pop sensibilities are of a more oddball nature, with gloopy production and sinister mantras; there’s plenty in common with their respective verse-chorus-verse accessibility though, and at times the collaboration feels too inevitably to care about

Myths 001‘s charm, however, is that the two clearly strike a chord within each other. The danceable post-punk groove of “La Fat Fur” doesn’t exactly scream perseverance (the pair recoded the EP over the grand course of a single week) but the tangible chemistry between them is inherently uplifting. “Feelin’ Lovely” is a syrupy leftfield pop cut which recalls Mockasin at his most playful, with Hynes’ involvement serving to shape the track into a nightlife mould, rather than the hotel bedroom vibe Mockasin deliberately crafts on his solo records.

There’s a certain playfulness about the three track record (with the frustratingly self-indulgent but undeniably warm “Big Distance Crush” being the third) that suggests it wasn’t written to be adored, and the effortless energy between the two makes for a buoyant little pop record. (www.mexicansummer.com)

Author rating: 6.5/10