Wonderground’s latest EP, “Become Water” is a short 5 track EP that displays the Los Angeles based quartet’s possibility. After getting their way through their first debut album, lawsuit and band members leaving, it looks like they’re finally on their way to success.

First track “Marionettes” displays a lush and vivid soundscape, with the vulnerable vocals of Paul Schoemehl fitting in perfectly, though at times sounding a tiny bit monotonous.

“Bells” sounds a bit like a Christmas anthem at first, with the light keys and guitar sounding right at home in a modern Christmas anthem. With the upbeat electric guitars and drums, it is quite reminiscent of early REM, however never seems to quite make its destination, with a big sing-along chorus being required really.

“Ground Floor” is the shortest track of the EP, only one and a half minutes, and is a quick acoustic jaunt, a perfect interim track that isn’t filler, but isn’t any the worse for being so short – in fact it probably makes it much stronger.

An atmospheric 2 minute beginning to “Tongues and codes” is brilliantly placed, a gem of an introduction: laid back and yet not too slow. The vocals blend in more with the music on this track, however towards the end the music reaches a crescendo with a lively ending.

Closer of this EP, “Paint my Day” sees gentle guitars and keys mixed with laid back vocals, and whilst the music livens up, the vocals remain very monotonous: almost like Paul really couldn’t be bothered to put any gusto into the track.

So, overall a strong EP, musically vivid but vocally lacking. Sounds quite like Mercury Nominated “The Guillemots”.