It always makes me feel good when artists who send me submissions actually know (or at least have an idea about) what music I like. This was the case when Clownfacee (Michael Quigley from NYC) sent me his Winter EP. Clownfacee’s music is not exactly very experimental or pushing the boundaries of music as we know it, but it is one of those EP’s that you will return to when browsing for some music when you get tired of listening to your favourite artists once in a while.

The songs on the Winter EP are built up with different layers, often starting out with a subtle melody after which other layers slowly start to float in and out. It reminds me a bit of Icelandic post rock in the way that melodic layers are joined with numerous textures, subtle percussion and beats and a hint of electronics. Another thing they have in common is that they’re tapping from a pool of emotions that some artists are too lazy to use. I’m talking about those emotions you experience when you are feeling something but you don’t know if it makes you sad or happy or something entirely else.

“Trees”, the song you can listen to above, is one of those tracks with a beautiful melody and I chose this particular track because (and those who’ve been reading my blog previously should know this) I’m a sucker for some glitchy percussion. “Trees” is dynamic and Clownfacee knows exactly when he has to add some distortion or other effects.

Another song I was considering to precede this post was “Wander In the Night”, a track with guitar melodies that starts off modestly, emitting a feeling of hope. Slowly it turns into a more powerful track because of the added beats and hazy vocals. When I close my eyes while listening to this song I think of someone returning home after a terrible event, first not knowing whether everything is going to be fine when the’ll get there, but slowly realizing that there is no reason to be afraid.

Get the Winter  EP on Clownfacee’s bandcamp now as a free download, listen to it and carefully save it some place where you can still find it when you need it.

Clownfacee on blogspot . soundcloud . twitter . bandcamp

Cactus-Mouth recently wrote some words about Clownfacee as well, so head over there if you want to know what he thinks.