Sydney duo, Toucan are proving to be a force to be reckoned with. Having just released their debut EP Brave New World this month, the band is about to head out on an east coast tour, finishing up by playing alongside Boy & Bear and Manchestra Orchestra at Playground Weekender in March. So to find out what all the fuss is about, we had a listen to their brand new EP and it turns out the fuss is well deserved.
My first advice to anyone about to listen to Toucan, is to not check out their facebook page. It will screw with your mind thinking that a voice like Jess Pollard’s can come from such an unimposing figure. With an almost jazzy influence, Pollard strongly delivers each and every line of the EP with a solid sense of personal style and charisma.
Shea Duncan’s synth and piano melodies infuse with the lyrics to ensure Pollard’s voice isn’t overly dominant and gives each song its own distinct characteristics, with variances in tempo ensuring the listener doesn’t get bored. The stand out tracks of the EP include "On the Run" and "Brave New World".
Brave New World proves to be a breath of fresh air, with it’s jazz infused indie pop, solidly backed up with true musical and vocal talent. Pollard and Duncan have managed to both showcase their talents, without either ever over shadowing the other. The EP manages to balance out both instrumental and vocals accents in perfect harmony. Had it not been for the cliché and frankly rather terrible remix of "Brave New World", this EP would have been an almost flawless release, but sadly that remix really did ruin the flow and atmosphere of the EP.
Review Score: 8.5/10.
