EP REVIEW: All I Wanted – Pretty Average

Formed in 2021 after relocating from Berlin to Barcelona, PRETTY AVERAGE are known for guitarist and singer Candy Bassas‘ otherworldly vocals and lead guitarist Sergi Cabanes‘ unique riffs. Or at least they will be upon the release of their debut EP All I Wanted, which explores themes of isolation and discontent and takes inspiration from the likes of THE CURE, NEW ORDER and LOU REED.

All Those Faces starts the EP off with a simple drum beat before the guitars come in. Unfortunately, a major issue crops up when Bassas‘ vocals come in, as the instruments overwhelm them and make them hard to hear. This does improve on Entwined, although the drums still feel too loud, but thankfully there is a moment just over halfway through the song where quiet background synths finally allow the vocals to truly shine. Of course, this might be a stylistic choice for the band, but it is a shame as Bassas‘ ethereal voice is hypnotic and truly impressive.

Pacing wise, the EP goes pretty steady; most of the songs are short, the pacing in each of them proving quite variable. For example, Fade Out feels mostly slow, despite having faster instruments in the background, as the vocals feel very reminiscent of a slow jazz song. Dive In Gloom meanwhile is a grungy closer and it is significantly different to the rest of the EP, not only for its change in sound, but also because it clocks in at four minutes. This sudden change in genre does come a little out of left field, but it does show that the band are willing to try new things.

All I Wanted has all the hallmarks of a debut release. Whilst the EP does have quite a few issues with its sound, it is still early days for the band, and it is commendable that they have tried new things and branched out musically, especially on the last song. It is charming, unique and fun to listen to, and PRETTY AVERAGE are at their best when they let Bassas‘ voice shine; it may not be perfect but it is definitely a good start.

Rating: 7/10

All I Wanted is set for release on February 2nd via self-release.

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